Written Statement of Terms: What an England Landlord Must Give and Keep on File
The main points in 30 seconds
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords in England must issue a written statement of terms for all new assured periodic tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026. For existing tenancies, you must supply the official Information Sheet instead. Securing compliance requires serving the correct document and retaining timestamped proof of delivery before the statutory deadline.
When the Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolished fixed-term agreements on 1 May 2026, it fundamentally changed how a landlord in England documents a tenancy. Under the new statutory obligation in Section 16D of the Housing Act 1988, you must now provide a written statement of terms to your renters. To remain compliant, your property records must contain the exact mandated paperwork—either a newly drafted written statement of terms or the government's standard Information Sheet—alongside clear, timestamped evidence of receipt.
Disclaimer: IziRento is operations software, not legal advice. Local tenancy rules vary; check a qualified adviser for binding decisions.
This statutory file supersedes the traditional AST folder
Previously, filing a signed fixed-term tenancy agreement was enough to complete your paperwork. For properties in England, the new Section 16D rules introduce an active compliance duty. Landlords must now store the correct information sheet or statement of terms alongside indisputable evidence of service. IziRento provides a records workspace for these files; it is not a legal advisory service and does not auto-generate legal statements.
The shift to periodic tenancies and the Section 16D mandate
When the Renters' Rights Act 2025 converted all assured shorthold tenancies into assured periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026, the mechanics of renting in England shifted completely. Without fixed end dates to rely on, the conditions outlining rent periods, notice requirements, and maintenance duties needed standardisation. Through Section 12 of the Act, the government inserted Section 16D into the Housing Act 1988. This specific addition forces landlords to issue standard written terms, ensuring renters always have an undisputed summary of their tenancy conditions.
Transitioning to assured periodic tenancies eliminated fixed-term expiries and automatic renewals. Legislators introduced this requirement so every private tenant in England understands how their ongoing occupancy operates. Local authorities are tasked with enforcing this rule and hold the power to impose civil penalties on those who fail to comply. Because enforcement relies heavily on documentary proof, failing to maintain a complete file leaves a landlord immediately vulnerable to council action.
Selecting the correct document: written statement or information sheet
A tenancy that was already documented in writing before the legislative shift does not automatically demand a brand-new written statement of terms. The correct paperwork depends entirely on when the tenancy commenced and whether a written contract was already in place.
| Tenancy circumstance | Mandatory compliance document |
|---|---|
| New agreements starting on or after 1 May 2026 | Written Statement of Terms |
| Existing written agreements signed before 1 May 2026 | Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet |
| Existing oral agreements without prior paperwork | Written Statement of Terms |
Serving the paperwork and securing delivery proof
Verify the required details for new lets
For any new tenancy, the written statement of terms must include all the prescribed details set out in the Assured Tenancies Regulations 2026. This means explicitly listing the parties' names, the rental property address, the rent amount, and the exact payment schedule.
Deliver ahead of the deadline
For new agreements, you must supply the written statement of terms before the tenancy is entered into. Waiting until the move-in date or the first rent collection is non-compliant.
Distribute the standard sheet for existing written lets
If your renter is on a pre-existing written contract that transitioned into a periodic tenancy, you must download the government-issued Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet. Provide this exact standard document to your tenant.
Prepare full terms for existing oral tenancies
If an existing tenancy operated without a written contract before 1 May 2026, you are required to formalise the arrangement by drawing up and serving a complete written statement of terms.
Capture written or digital confirmation of receipt
Acquire a tracked email read-receipt, a digital signature, or a physical written acknowledgement proving the tenant received the paperwork before the statutory cutoff.
Build the audit-ready record
Upload the finalised information sheet or statement alongside the proof of delivery into your IziRento workspace. Retain this unified record so it is immediately accessible for any local authority inspection.
Filing the compliance record and auditing active properties
Once the paperwork is handed over, landlords must keep an exact copy of what was served. The Assured Tenancies Regulations 2026 specify the required inclusions, meaning a generic, outdated template will fail a compliance check. If you generated a full set of written terms, archive that precise version. If you relied on the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, save that specific document paired with the tenant's delivery acknowledgement.
Administrative oversights are a significant risk for property managers navigating this transition. Many wrongly assume that a fixed-term AST signed in 2025 remains adequate documentation. It does not. Council enforcement teams will specifically look for Section 16D compliance—meaning either the new statement or the government sheet—and verify the exact date it was handed over.
Audit your active England tenancies without delay. Verify that every converted agreement has the Information Sheet filed, and every new let holds a written statement of terms. Because local councils base their enforcement on documented evidence, providing the document before the agreement is entered into is only part of the process. Securing the specific paperwork alongside its delivery timestamp in your workspace completes the compliance workflow.
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, England landlords must provide a written statement of terms or information sheet. Learn what to serve and how to file proof.
FAQ
What if the tenant declines to acknowledge receipt of the paperwork?
If a renter refuses to sign a physical or digital acknowledgement, rely on verifiable delivery methods. Tracked postal services, portal timestamps, or email read-receipts will prove the document was issued ahead of the deadline.
Does an older fixed-term AST that became periodic before 1 May 2026 need a new statement of terms?
No. If the arrangement was an existing written tenancy that transitioned into a periodic one, you meet your initial obligation by delivering the standard Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet. You do not need to draft a completely new agreement.
Can I repurpose my legacy tenancy agreement template for new lets?
No. For any new tenancy, the written statement of terms must incorporate the specific prescribed information outlined in the Assured Tenancies Regulations 2026. Old AST templates that refer to Section 21 and fixed terms are obsolete and invalid.
Do these Section 16D regulations cover rental properties in Scotland or Wales?
No. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the specific Section 16D obligation for a written statement of terms apply strictly to private residential tenancies located in England.
What is the exact deadline for serving the written statement on a new tenancy?
For any new tenancy commencing on or after 1 May 2026, landlords must hand over the written statement of terms to the tenant before the tenancy agreement is formally entered into.
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This material is for information only and is not legal advice.