Renters' Rights Act: Small Landlord Tenancy Pack (England) — plain-English guide + 7 editable Word templates

On 1 May 2026 the assured shorthold tenancy ended. Every new private let in England is now periodic, section 21 is gone, rent rises only by Form 4A, tenants can ask for pets, and before anyone signs you must give a written statement covering 18 specific things. The government withdrew its old model agreement and published no replacement.

This pack is that replacement, explained. Reading age 10. A symbol on every page. 12 "think of it like" boxes, 9 worked examples, and your options laid out like an infographic.

The guide (57 pages, PDF)

• Words, in plain terms: a two-page glossary with a symbol legend, so the pages can be read from the shapes alone
• What changed and what it means for a landlord with 1 to 10 properties, with an at-a-glance page and timelines of what is done and what is still to come
• The section 8 grounds you can actually use, with notice periods, as an options grid
• The once-a-year rent-increase clock, worked through with real dates
• Pets: the 28-day rule, what counts as a reasonable refusal, and your options
• Rent in advance, deposits, advertising and the ban on bidding
• The penalties as numbers rather than fears
• Step-by-step plans for a new let, an existing tenancy, a rent increase and getting the property back
• 6 opportunities, and every source listed

The templates (Word)

• Assured periodic tenancy agreement with every one of the 18 statement items mapped to a clause, plus an index page
• Stand-alone written statement of terms
• Pet-request consent and reasoned-refusal letters
• Rent-increase cover letter to accompany Form 4A
• Existing-tenancy letter enclosing the official Information Sheet
• Notice and compliance log

England only. Version 1.1, law as at 9 September 2026. Buyers receive updated versions by email when the Act's later phases land: within 1 working day for the dates we track, within 5 working days for anything else.

We make no claims

Plain Terms presents the official rules in plain English, with examples, analogies and suggested options, so that anyone can understand them. Nothing here is legal advice. Before you act on anything in this pack, confirm it on gov.uk (the sources are listed at the back) and, where it matters to you, with your own solicitor. The official sources and your adviser decide; we help you understand and ask the right questions. Templates are drafted from the primary sources and carry a note to have them reviewed before first use if your situation is unusual.

Our promise: not clearer within 14 days, full refund. No form, no fuss.