What is a written statement of terms?
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords must give tenants of new tenancies a written statement of the main terms. For tenancies that existed before 1 May 2026, written tenancies needed the government's information sheet by 31 May 2026, and verbal tenancies needed a written statement. Penalties are up to £7,000.
Read more in our guide: Selling a portfolio with tenants
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New tenancies from 1 May 2026 | A written statement of terms before the tenancy starts |
| Existing written tenancies | Government information sheet to every named tenant by 31 May 2026 |
| Existing verbal tenancies | A written statement of terms by 31 May 2026 |
| Typical contents | Landlord's name and address, rent and due date, deposit, repair responsibilities and bills the tenant pays |
| Penalty | Up to £7,000; up to £40,000 for repeated or unremedied breaches |
What the Rules Require
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 made written terms compulsory for private assured tenancies in England. A new tenancy must start with a written statement that sets out the key terms and the information prescribed by regulations, such as the landlord's details and how rent can be increased. Clauses that conflict with the Act, such as a fixed term or a rent review clause, have no effect.
For tenancies that started before 1 May 2026, the government published a standard information sheet explaining the changes. It had to be given to every named tenant on a written tenancy by 31 May 2026, and agents managing the property had to give it too.
Why Buyers Check It
- A buyer becomes responsible for the tenancy on completion and inherits any gaps, so they will ask for each written statement or the evidence that the information sheet was served, with dates and method.
- Missing documents can lead to requests for an indemnity, a price reduction or for the seller to put things right before exchange.
- The written terms, together with the rent schedule and deposit records, are the core of a tenanted sale pack.
A Quick Self-Check
- Do you have a signed or acknowledged written statement for every tenancy started since 1 May 2026?
- Did every named tenant on an older written tenancy receive the information sheet by 31 May 2026, and can you prove it?
- Have verbal tenancies been put in writing?
- Do your documents remove fixed terms and rent review clauses?
- If you missed a deadline, have you put it right now? A late remedy may reduce the risk of the higher penalty.
Official Sources and Further Reading
General information for landlords in England, checked against official sources in October 2026. It is not tax, legal or financial advice: speak to a qualified accountant or solicitor about your own circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords must give tenants of new tenancies a written statement of the main terms. For tenancies that existed before 1 May 2026, written tenancies needed the government's information sheet by 31 May 2026, and verbal tenancies needed a written statement. Penalties are up to £7,000.
Since 1 May 2026, landlords in England must give tenants of new assured tenancies a written statement of the main terms. Existing verbal tenancies had to be put in writing by 31 May 2026.
Landlords had to give the government's Renters' Rights Act information sheet to every named tenant on a written tenancy that started before 1 May 2026, by 31 May 2026.
Up to £7,000, rising to up to £40,000 for repeated breaches or where the breach is not put right.
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