The Renters' Rights Act 2025 officially came into force on 1 May 2026. One of its most immediate requirements catches landlords off guard: every new tenancy in England now needs a written statement of terms before the first signature goes on a contract. If you have existing tenants on a verbal agreement, that deadline has already passed - 31 May 2026 was the cut-off, according to Simply Business Landlord.
What is the written statement of terms?
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, the written statement of terms is a mandatory, standardised document. It sets out the core conditions of an assured periodic tenancy (a rolling tenancy with no fixed end date). It does not replace your tenancy agreement. Think of it as a plain-English summary that sits alongside the contract, giving your tenants a clear picture of their rights and obligations before they commit.
The good news for landlords managing a portfolio is that you do not have to produce two separate documents. You can fold all the required information into your tenancy agreement itself, reducing the paperwork your tenants receive. For practical templates and compliance resources, the free property resources hub is a useful starting point.
Who needs to give one - and by when?
The document applies differently depending on where your tenancy stands right now, according to Simply Business Landlord.
For new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, you must provide the written statement before the agreement is signed or the tenancy begins. No exceptions.
For existing tenancies, the position splits in two. If your tenants already had a written agreement before 1 May 2026, you do not need a new written statement of terms. Instead, you must send them the government-produced information sheet - the exact PDF from the government, sent as a printed copy or digital attachment to every named tenant. If your tenants were on a verbal (unwritten) agreement, you were required to issue the full written statement of terms by 31 May 2026. These tenants do not also need the information sheet.
It is worth noting that the written statement and the information sheet are not interchangeable. They cover the same ground - tenant rights under the new Act - but each serves a distinct scenario.
What must the written statement contain?
The government has outlined specific requirements. A vague summary is not sufficient. According to Simply Business Landlord, the document must include:
• The basics: full legal names of all landlords and tenants, the exact property address, and an address in England or Wales where tenants can serve formal legal notices.
• The financials: the rent amount, the payment due date (rent periods cannot exceed one month), and a statement confirming that any future rent increases must go through a formal Section 13 notice. It must also clarify whether utility bills and council tax are included in the rent.
• Safety and repairs: a clear acknowledgement of your legal duty to keep the property fit for human habitation, and your obligations for structural repairs, gas safety, and electrical safety.
• Possession and notice: the minimum notice period a tenant must give to vacate (at least two months under the Act), and a clear explanation that landlords can only reclaim possession through the courts using valid legal grounds.
From a yield perspective, getting this right matters beyond pure compliance. Tenants who understand their rights from day one tend to raise fewer disputes mid-tenancy, which directly reduces void risk during prolonged legal wrangles. If you want to pressure-test how a compliance cost or void period affects your returns, the BTL stress test calculator is worth a run. For broader thinking on how compliance fits into a wider portfolio approach, see our guide to property investment strategies and the portfolio operations hub.
Key takeaways
• The Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, making a written statement of terms mandatory for all new tenancies in England.
• Landlords with existing verbal agreements had until 31 May 2026 to issue the full written statement.
• Landlords with existing written agreements must supply the government's information sheet - not the written statement of terms.
• The written statement must cover the basics, financials, safety obligations, and possession rules as set out by the government.
• You can include the written statement within your tenancy agreement rather than issuing it as a separate document.
