The written statement of terms: 18 things every new tenancy in England must include

From 1 May 2026, every new private tenancy in England is a periodic tenancy (a tenancy with no end date). Before the tenant agrees to take the property, the landlord must give them a written statement of terms. There is no official form. The rules say what it must contain.

The 18 things

  1. The landlord's name
  2. The tenant's name
  3. An address in England or Wales for serving notices on the landlord
  4. The property address
  5. The date the tenant can move in
  6. The rent, and when it is due
  7. A statement that any rent increase will be by a section 13 notice
  8. Which bills the rent covers, and any bills paid to the landlord
  9. The deposit amount, if one is taken
  10. The tenant's minimum notice period (no more than 2 months)
  11. A statement that the landlord can generally only end the tenancy through the court, using the correct form and grounds
  12. Fitness for human habitation
  13. The landlord's repairing obligations
  14. Electrical safety
  15. Gas safety
  16. Disability adaptations
  17. Pets: the tenant may ask, and consent cannot be unreasonably refused
  18. Supported-accommodation statement, where it applies

When and how

Give it before the tenancy is agreed. It can be part of the tenancy agreement or a separate document. Missing it is a breach with a £4,000 starting penalty; a repeat within five years becomes an offence with penalties up to £40,000.

The old model agreement is gone

The government withdrew its model shorthold tenancy agreement and has not published a replacement for periodic tenancies. An old AST form used for a new let is itself a breach, because it contains a fixed term.

Sources

  • Housing Act 1988, section 16D (as inserted by the Renters' Rights Act 2025)
  • The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (Written Statement of Terms and Information Sheet) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/324
  • gov.uk: Assured periodic tenancies: written information you need to give to your tenant
  • gov.uk: Civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

We make no claims about your situation. This is not legal advice. Confirm on gov.uk and with your own solicitor.

The Landlord Tenancy Pack includes a periodic tenancy agreement with all 18 items mapped to a clause, plus the stand-alone statement, for £39.