Renters' Rights Act 2025: draft written statement requirements published

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published draft regulations setting out the new written statement of terms that will be required under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025).

From 1 May 2026, landlords in the private rented sector will be required to provide tenants with written information about the key terms of their periodic assured tenancy before the tenancy is entered into. This information may be included within the tenancy agreement itself or provided in a separate document.

The draft regulations indicate that the written statement must cover core tenancy information, including the identity of the landlord and tenant, rent and payment arrangements, notice requirements, and confirmation that a landlord may only bring a tenancy to an end by obtaining a court order for possession. Landlords will also be required to include information about their repairing and safety obligations, fitness for habitation duties, and certain tenant rights, such as the right to request consent to keep a pet.

Although the regulations remain in draft form, their publication is intended to give landlords and managing agents time to prepare ahead of implementation. In practice, this is likely to involve reviewing and updating standard tenancy agreements, onboarding processes and compliance documentation well in advance of the 1 May 2026 start date.

For tenancies granted before the May 2026 start date, landlords will not be required to issue a full written statement. Instead, tenants must be provided with a standardised information sheet, expected to be published in March 2026, explaining how the RRA 2025 affects existing tenancies. This must be supplied to any existing tenants by no later than 31 May 2026.

Private landlords and property managers should consider the impact of these changes now and monitor developments closely as the regulations are finalised and further guidance is issued. 

For further detail on the information that must be included in the written statement, please consult the complete list provided in the MHCLG’s draft statutory instrument below.

The draft statutory instrument specifies that, ahead of the signing of a tenancy agreement for an assured tenancy (except for social housing assured tenancies) in England and Wales, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement including the following information:

1. The name of the landlord and, if there are joint landlords, the name of each landlord.
2. The name of the tenant and, if there are joint tenants, the name of each tenant.
3. An address in England or Wales at which notices (including notices in proceedings) may be served on the landlord by the tenant.
4. The address of the dwelling-house let on the tenancy (the property).
5. The date on which the tenant is first entitled to possession under the tenancy.
6. The rent payable under the tenancy and when it is due.
7. A statement explaining that if the landlord proposes to increase the rent, the landlord must serve notice on the tenant in accordance with section 13 of the Housing Act 1988.
8. Where a relevant bill payment is payable by the tenant to the landlord under the tenancy (whether as part of the rent or in addition):
   • A statement to that effect.
   • A statement of whether it is payable as part of the rent or in addition.
   • Where payable in addition, details of each amount or how amounts will be notified, and when payments are due or how notification will occur.
9. If tenancy deposit requirements under section 213 of the Housing Act 2004 apply, the amount of any tenancy deposit.
10. If section 5(1) of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 applies, the minimum notice period a tenant must provide when giving notice to quit.
11. If section 5 of the Housing Act 1988 applies (security of tenure), a statement explaining:
    • The landlord can only end the tenancy by obtaining a court order for possession and its execution.
    • For such an order, the landlord (or at least one joint landlord) must usually serve a notice of proceedings for possession in the prescribed form, specifying the ground.
    • The ground of possession determines the minimum period of notice the landlord must give before proceedings.
12. If section 9A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies, a statement that the landlord is obliged to ensure the property is fit for human habitation as required.
13. If section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies (subject to certain exceptions), a statement that the landlord is obliged to:
    • Keep in repair the structure and exterior.
    • Keep in repair and working order the installations for water, gas, electricity and sanitation (with specific inclusions and exclusions).
    • Keep in repair and working order the installations for space heating and heating water.
    • Section 11 will not apply if a county court order under section 12(2) of that Act excludes or modifies the landlord’s obligations, or if the property is within premises managed by an RTM company.
14. If regulation 3 of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 applies, a statement that the landlord must:
    • Ensure electrical safety standards are met while the property is occupied.
    • Ensure relevant electrical installations are inspected and tested at least every five years (or earlier if required).
    • Obtain and supply a report about the inspection and test to the tenant.
15. If applicable, a statement that the landlord must:
    • Maintain relevant gas fittings and associated flues safely.
    • Have each appliance and flue checked for safety by approved persons at specified intervals.
    • Make and provide a record of the checks to the tenant, subject to exceptions.
    • This applies where relevant gas fittings are installed and the regulations apply.
16. Where applicable, information about section 190 of the Equality Act 2010, including:
    • The landlord may not unreasonably withhold consent to a tenant’s application to make an improvement to the premises for a disabled occupant where the improvement facilitates enjoyment of the premises, and
    • These rights and obligations do not apply if like provisions are made by the tenancy.
    • This applies where the tenancy is neither a protected nor statutory tenancy, and the tenant is entitled to make improvements with landlord consent.
17. A statement that, in accordance with section 16A of the Housing Act 1988, the tenant may keep a pet at the property if the tenant requests this and the landlord consents, and such consent may not be unreasonably refused.
18. If the tenancy is granted as a tenancy of supported accommodation (as defined), a statement to that effect and an explanation of why the tenancy is granted as such.

This article was also authored by Oliver Cooper-Green, Trainee Solicitor at Womble Bond Dickinson.