Updated: May 2026 • Based on UK Law • England Only
What Is a Written Statement of Terms?
A Written Statement of Terms is the prescribed information landlords must give tenants before a new Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) — replacing the AST from 1 May 2026.
It can be a standalone document or built into the APT itself (our APT template includes it). Section 16D, Housing Act 1988.
This guide covers the Written Statement of Terms, prescribed information requirements, penalty risks, and key deadlines for landlords from May 2026.
The government has told every private landlord in England to provide 20+ pieces of prescribed information to their tenants — and given them no template to do it with.
The draft regulations dropped in January 2026. The final version was published on 20 March 2026.
The new tenancy deadline hit on 1 May 2026, with existing oral tenancies due by 31 May.
The fine for getting it wrong? Up to £7,000 — rising to £40,000 if you don’t fix it within 28 days.
This isn’t a technicality buried in the small print. It’s the single biggest new paperwork obligation landlords have faced in years — and many are still scrambling to catch up.
✓ Written Statement of Terms Builder — Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Build your Written Statement using our guided questions or classic editor — preview every clause before buying.
What Is a Written Statement of Terms?
From 1 May 2026, every private landlord granting a new assured periodic tenancy in England must give the tenant a Written Statement of Terms before the tenancy is entered into.
This comes from Section 12 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which inserts a new Section 16D into the Housing Act 1988.
It is one of the most significant practical changes the Act introduces — and it affects every single new tenancy.
The Written Statement is not a tenancy agreement.
It’s the prescribed information set required by the 2026 Regulations — covering everything from rent details and deposit protection to gas safety duties and pet rights.
It can be provided as a standalone document, or the information can be included within the tenancy agreement itself.
Our Assured Periodic Tenancy template takes the second approach — the prescribed Written Statement information is built directly into the agreement, so the same document satisfies both requirements.
Expert Insight
The government deliberately chose not to publish a standard form or template. The Assured Tenancies (Written Statement of Terms) Regulations 2026 specify content — 20+ individual pieces of information — but leave the structure, wording, and formatting entirely to the landlord. That gap is where mistakes will happen.
You can provide the Written Statement as a standalone document alongside your tenancy agreement, or integrate the content directly into your tenancy agreement.
Either approach satisfies the legal requirement — what matters is that every prescribed item is included.
Who Needs to Provide One?
If you’re a private landlord in England granting a new assured periodic tenancy from 1 May 2026, you need a Written Statement of Terms. No exceptions.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, fixed-term ASTs no longer exist for new tenancies.
Every new letting automatically becomes an assured periodic tenancy — which means every new letting needs this document.
⚠️ Warning — Existing Tenancies Are Affected Too
If you have an existing tenancy based on a verbal or oral agreement with no written terms, you must provide a full Written Statement by 31 May 2026. This isn’t optional — the same penalties apply.
For existing tenancies that do have a written agreement, the requirement is different.
You’ll need to provide the free government Information Sheet (published on gov.uk on 20 March 2026) by 31 May 2026.
You do not need the Written Statement for those tenancies.
If you’re currently using our Assured Shorthold Tenancy template (now being replaced by the Assured Periodic Tenancy from 1 May 2026), your existing agreements remain valid.
They automatically convert to periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026 — for those tenants, the government Information Sheet covers you.
Our updated Assured Periodic Tenancy template is already live, and existing customers receive it free under our lifetime updates policy.
Quick Answer
New tenancy from 1 May 2026? → Written Statement required before the tenancy is entered into. Existing oral tenancy? → Written Statement required by 31 May 2026. Existing written tenancy? → Government Information Sheet required by 31 May 2026 (free from gov.uk).
What Must Be Included? (The Full List)
The draft Assured Tenancies (Written Statement of Terms) Regulations 2026 list everything that must appear in the Written Statement.
Miss a single item and the entire document may be treated as non-compliant.
Here’s every piece of prescribed information, broken down in plain English.
Landlord and tenant details:
- Landlord’s full legal name — all landlords, including joint landlords. If a company, use the registered company name.
- Service address for notices — must be an address in England or Wales where the tenant can serve notices. A PO Box is acceptable.
- Tenant’s full legal name — all tenants, including joint tenants.
Property and possession:
- Full property address — must match the tenancy agreement exactly, including postcode.
- Possession date — the date the tenant is first entitled to occupy the property.
Rent and payments:
- Rent amount and frequency — the monthly amount and when it’s due. Under the new rules, rent periods cannot exceed one calendar month.
- Rent increase mechanism — a statement confirming that the Section 13 Housing Act 1988 process applies to rent increases.
- Bills included in rent — whether utilities, council tax, TV licence, or broadband are included or paid separately.
- Bills payable separately to landlord — if the tenant pays bills to the landlord (not direct to providers), the amounts and notification method must be stated.
- Tenancy deposit — the amount taken and which protection scheme holds it. The maximum deposit is 5 weeks’ rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. If you need help with the deposit process, our Deposit Protection Notice guide walks through the requirements.
Expert Insight
The bills requirement catches more landlords than you’d expect. If you include council tax in the rent, the Written Statement must say so explicitly. If the tenant pays you for a utility bill rather than paying the provider directly, that needs a separate entry. Get the detail wrong and you’ve created a gap in compliance.
Tenancy security and possession:
- Security of tenure — a statement confirming the landlord can only end the tenancy by obtaining a court possession order.
- Possession process — an explanation that the landlord must serve a prescribed notice with specific grounds, and that notice periods vary depending on the ground used.
Landlord’s statutory obligations:
- Fitness for habitation — a statement of the landlord’s duty under Section 9A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
- Repairing obligations — the landlord’s duties under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, covering structure, exterior, and installations.
- Electrical safety — a statement about the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, including 5-yearly testing and the duty to provide the report to tenants.
- Gas safety — if the property has gas fittings, a statement about the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, including annual checks and the duty to provide the gas safety record. This one is conditional — if your property has no gas supply, it doesn’t apply.
Tenant’s rights:
- Disability-related improvements — a statement about Section 190 of the Equality Act 2010, confirming the landlord must not unreasonably refuse consent for disability-related improvements.
- Pet rights — a statement about Section 16A of the Housing Act 1988, confirming the tenant may request to keep a pet and the landlord’s consent must not be unreasonably refused. This is a new right under the Renters’ Rights Act and many existing tenancy agreements don’t cover it.
Supported accommodation (if applicable):
- Supported accommodation status — if the property is supported accommodation, a statement confirming this and the reasons. This is rare and mainly applies to housing associations.
Key Takeaways
The Written Statement references at least six separate Acts of Parliament — Housing Act 1988, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Equality Act 2010, Gas Safety Regulations 1998, Electrical Safety Regulations 2020, and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 itself. Getting one wrong doesn’t just affect one clause. It can undermine the entire document’s compliance status.
When Must It Be Provided?
The timing rules are straightforward — and unforgiving.
New tenancies from 1 May 2026: The Written Statement must be provided to the tenant before the tenancy is entered into. Not on the day. Not a week later. Before.
Existing oral tenancies: If you have a tenancy with no written agreement — perhaps you never got around to putting it in writing — you must provide a full Written Statement by 31 May 2026.
Existing written tenancies: You don’t need the Written Statement.
You need the government Information Sheet, which was published on gov.uk on 20 March 2026.
That document is free and must be served by 31 May 2026.
⚠️ The Deadline Is Here
The final regulations were published on 20 March 2026. The deadline for new tenancies was 1 May 2026 — already passed. Existing oral tenancies must have a Written Statement served by 31 May 2026. Landlords still without a compliant statement are running out of time.
Our Written Statement of Terms Builder is structured following the final 2026 Regulations published on 20 March 2026.
As UK law evolves, we monitor changes and updated versions appear free in your My Templates page — covered by our lifetime updates commitment at no extra cost.
What Happens If You Don’t Provide One?
The penalty structure is built to escalate quickly.
First offence: A civil penalty of up to £7,000. The expected starting point is around £4,000 — not a slap on the wrist.
Continuing breach (28+ days after penalty): If the local authority issues a penalty and you still haven’t provided the Written Statement within 28 days, it becomes a criminal offence.
That means potential prosecution or a further civil fine of up to £40,000.
Repeat offence (within 5 years): A civil fine of up to £40,000 — no need to wait for the criminal threshold.
Quick Answer
Enforcement is tenant-driven. The tenant complains to the local authority, who investigates and issues the penalty. There’s no automatic inspection — but once a complaint is made, the landlord must prove they provided the prescribed information. No Written Statement means no defence.
Consider the maths. Our builder costs £10.
A first offence starts at £4,000. A landlord with three properties who misses the requirement faces potential exposure of £12,000 or more.
That’s before factoring in the criminal offence risk if they don’t fix it within 28 days.
Written Statement vs Tenancy Agreement — What’s the Difference?
This is the most common confusion — and it’s understandable.
A tenancy agreement is the full contract between landlord and tenant.
It covers everything from rent and repairs to break clauses, access arrangements, and permitted use.
It’s the legal backbone of the tenancy relationship.
A Written Statement of Terms is a specific document containing only the prescribed information required by the 2026 Regulations.
It covers particular statutory obligations, tenant rights, safety duties, and rental terms that the government has decided tenants must be told about explicitly.
You can satisfy the requirement in two ways.
You can provide the Written Statement as a standalone document alongside your tenancy agreement — or you can incorporate all the prescribed information directly into the agreement itself.
Our Assured Periodic Tenancy template takes the second route — the prescribed Written Statement information is integrated within the tenancy agreement, so the same document covers both requirements.
Expert Insight
Most existing tenancy agreements — even professionally drafted ones — don’t include all the new prescribed information. Pet rights under Section 16A, Equality Act disability improvement provisions, and the specific statutory obligation wording are almost certainly missing. That’s why even landlords with solid agreements may need this document.
If you’re starting fresh and need a full tenancy agreement for a new letting from May 2026, our Assured Periodic Tenancy template is the updated version of the AST for the Renters’ Rights Act.
The Written Statement Builder covers the prescribed information requirement specifically.
Written Statement vs Information Sheet — What’s the Difference?
These are two different documents for two different situations. Mixing them up is one of the biggest mistakes landlords are likely to make.
The Written Statement of Terms is what this guide is about. It’s a document the landlord creates, containing all the prescribed information required by the 2026 Regulations.
It’s required for new tenancies from 1 May 2026 and for existing oral tenancies by 31 May 2026.
The Information Sheet is a completely different document. It’s published by the government, available free from gov.uk (published 20 March 2026).
It’s required for existing tenancies that already have a written agreement — and must be served on the tenant by 31 May 2026.
Quick Answer
New tenancy / oral tenancy → You need the Written Statement of Terms (landlord creates). Existing written tenancy → You need the government Information Sheet (free from gov.uk). They are not interchangeable. Using the wrong one doesn’t satisfy the requirement.
For a full breakdown of every change affecting landlords and tenants under the new Act, read our complete Renters’ Rights Act 2025 guide.
Prior Notices — The Step Most Landlords Will Miss
This is the bit that even careful landlords are likely to overlook — and it could cost them dearly down the line.
Prior Notices are advance warnings to the tenant that the landlord may rely on certain possession grounds in future.
While not strictly part of the Written Statement regulations, they are strongly recommended and should be served before or with the tenancy agreement.
Without a Prior Notice, you can still use the relevant possession ground — but you face a fine for not having served the notice.
It’s a penalty for a procedural failure, even if the underlying ground is perfectly valid.
⚠️ Warning — Student HMO Landlords
Ground 4A is specifically relevant for student HMO landlords. You must serve a Prior Notice by 31 May 2026 for existing tenancies, or before the tenancy starts for new lettings, to use the student possession ground. Miss this window and you lose the ability to rely on that ground — potentially for the life of the tenancy.
The key Prior Notice grounds to consider include:
- Ground 1 — landlord occupation
- Ground 1A — sale of property
- Ground 2 — mortgage lender possession
- Ground 5 — minister of religion
- Ground 6 — redevelopment
- Ground 4A — student HMO
Our Written Statement of Terms Builder includes an optional Prior Notice section.
It lets you select the relevant grounds and generates properly formatted Prior Notice paragraphs alongside your Written Statement.
A blank template would never prompt you to consider this — our builder does.
Key Takeaways
Prior Notices are not part of the Written Statement requirement — but serving them at the same time is the defensive approach recommended by leading law firms. Our builder handles both in a single workflow. It’s the kind of forward-thinking step that separates properly prepared landlords from those who’ll regret not doing it later.
How Our Builder Helps
The government gave landlords a list of requirements. They didn’t give them a template, a form, or even a worked example. Our builder fills that gap.
Regulation-mapped clauses — every clause in the output traces back to a specific regulation requirement. Nothing is missed, nothing is guesswork.
Compliance gate — the builder will not generate your statement until all mandatory information is provided. You cannot accidentally create a document with missing prescribed information.
Plain English wording — statutory obligations translated into clear, professional language that tenants can understand and landlords can stand behind.
Expert Insight
Unlike a blank template, our builder uses conditional logic. If your property has no gas supply, gas safety clauses don’t appear. If the tenancy isn’t supported accommodation, those provisions are excluded. You get a clean, relevant document — not a bloated form full of sections that don’t apply to your situation.
Prior Notice integration — optionally include Prior Notices for possession grounds as part of the same workflow.
Deposit cross-check — flags if the deposit exceeds the 5-week maximum or if the protection scheme isn’t specified.
Print-ready output — professional A4 document ready to print, sign, and provide to your tenant.
Build your Written Statement step by step with guided questions, or complete it directly in the editor — both produce the same professional document. £10 one-time. Lifetime updates. No subscription.
Expert Insight — Save with the Correspondence Pack
The Written Statement of Terms Builder is included in our Landlord Correspondence Pack — 7 templates for £35 instead of £70 individually.
The pack covers the full lifecycle of landlord-tenant communication: Late Rent Letter Pack (4 escalating letters), Breach of Tenancy Letter, Property Damage Letter, End of Tenancy Confirmation, Written Statement of Terms Builder, Break Clause Notice, and Property Inspection Notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Written Statement of Terms?
From 1 May 2026, Section 16D of the Housing Act 1988 requires every private landlord in England to provide tenants with prescribed information about the tenancy.
This information must be given before the tenancy is entered into. It’s called the Written Statement of Terms.
It covers rent details, landlord obligations, tenant rights, safety duties, and more. Failure to provide it can result in fines up to £7,000.
Do I need this if I already have a tenancy agreement?
If you’re starting a new tenancy from 1 May 2026, your tenancy agreement must include all the prescribed information — or you must provide it as a separate document.
Our Assured Periodic Tenancy template already includes the prescribed Written Statement information built directly into the agreement.
Most existing tenancy agreements do not include all the new requirements — pet rights, Equality Act provisions, and specific statutory obligation wording are almost certainly missing.
Our builder generates the missing information in a format you can provide alongside your existing agreement.
What about my existing tenants?
If your existing tenancy has a written agreement, you need to provide the free government Information Sheet (published on gov.uk on 20 March 2026) by 31 May 2026.
You do not need this product for that.
However, if your existing tenancy is based on a verbal or oral agreement with no written terms, you must provide a full Written Statement by 31 May 2026 — and that is exactly what this product builds.
Is this a tenancy agreement?
No. This generates the prescribed information required by the 2026 Regulations.
You can include this information within your tenancy agreement or provide it as a separate document — both approaches satisfy the legal requirement.
Our Assured Periodic Tenancy template takes the included-within approach if you’d prefer one document.
If you need a full tenancy agreement, see our Assured Periodic Tenancy template — the new format replacing the AST from 1 May 2026.
Do I need a solicitor?
Many landlords complete this without one. Our builder is structured following the 2026 Regulations and includes all prescribed information with clear guidance throughout.
Consider solicitor review if your circumstances are complex, you have multiple properties with different arrangements, or you want additional peace of mind. Your choice based on your situation.
What happens if I do not provide a Written Statement?
The tenant can complain to the local authority. The usual fine is expected to start around £4,000, up to a maximum of £7,000.
If the breach continues for more than 28 days after a penalty is imposed, it becomes a criminal offence with potential prosecution or a further fine up to £40,000.
Is this kept up to date as UK law changes?
Yes. This product reflects the final 2026 Regulations published on 20 March 2026.
We monitor UK law changes and updated versions appear free in your My Templates page — covered by our lifetime updates commitment at no extra cost.
Is the Written Statement of Terms legally binding?
The Written Statement itself is an information document — it records the prescribed information that the law requires you to provide.
When completed and provided correctly, it satisfies the Section 16D requirement. The tenancy agreement remains the binding contract between landlord and tenant.
Tenancy Correspondence Pack
Complete Correspondence Bundle • 7 Templates + Editor & Interview Versions • Save 50% vs Buying Individually
Lifetime Access • Free Updates • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee*
The Truth About “Free” Legal Template Sites (What You’re Really Signing Up For)
Most websites offering a “free legal template” follow the same pattern:
- You click because it’s advertised as free
- You spend 10–15 minutes answering questions
- At the very end, you must create an account or start a “free trial”
- Your card is required upfront
- The subscription auto-renews at £29–£39 per month
This isn’t a free template – it’s a subscription service. Many people only realise after being charged £300–£400 over the year.
Why These “Free” Templates Are a Legal Risk
- Outdated wording: not aligned with current UK law
- Missing mandatory clauses: required for legal validity
- No compliance guidance: leaving users without legal context
- No structured checklist: no way to verify the document works
- Not kept updated: often unchanged when legislation changes
One incorrect clause can weaken or invalidate the entire document.
Hidden Problem: Many “Free Template” Sites Aren’t Even UK-Based
Another major issue is that many free or auto-subscription template sites operate outside the UK and use documents originally drafted for the US legal system. These are then loosely adapted for “international use,” which creates serious problems:
- Incorrect terminology: taken from US contract law
- Missing UK statutory references: essential legal requirements omitted
- Non-applicable clauses: terms that don’t apply under UK legislation
- Legal conflicts: risks breaching UK consumer, employment, or GDPR rules
Why Templates UK Does the Opposite
- Drafted by UK professionals: written by experienced business & legal experts
- UK-law only: no US crossover or generic “international” templates
- One-time price from £10: no subscriptions, no renewals
- Full preview: see the exact document before buying
- Lifetime access: free lifetime updates included
My Templates Dashboard
All purchased templates are stored in your personal My Templates page, organised by category.
When we update a template for UK law changes, the new version appears automatically in your dashboard — free, forever.
Build a growing library of UK legal documents across every area of your business and personal life.
Transparent Pricing
From £10 per template — with free lifetime usage and free lifetime updates. No subscriptions. No renewals. No auto-billing.
Not ready to buy? Use our free interactive checklists to guide your own document — no payment required.
No tricks. No trials. No hidden fees. Just the exact UK-specific legal document you came for — at the price we told you upfront.
Build your own bespoke document with our Written Statement of Terms Builder. Preview the full document before buying — only pay when you’re happy with it.
Get Every Template in One Bundle
The Renters’ Rights Essential Pack includes 26 templates covering the full RRA 2025 lifecycle.
Tenancy setup, Written Statement, pet consent, compliance, correspondence, Section 8 notices, and court documents. One purchase, lifetime updates, no subscriptions.
Explore Template Bundles by Category
One purchase, lifetime updates, no subscriptions.
- Business Complete Suite — 37 templates, £199 (smaller packs available)
- Landlord Ultimate Bundle — 33 templates, £120 (smaller packs available)
- Complete Family Pack — 18 templates, £65 (smaller packs available)
- Complete Estate Pack — 8 templates, £49 (smaller packs available)
Explore the Master Business Legal Templates Pillar Guide
The complete overview of 37 essential UK business templates.
UK Business Legal Templates — Complete Master Guide
Explore All Templates UK Pillar Guides
- Family Law Documents Guide UK
- Wills & Estate Planning Guide UK
- Residential Landlord Documents Guide UK
- Employment Documents Guide UK
- How to Set Up a Business in the UK — Legal Guide
- Website Legal Documents UK — Compliance Guide
- Financial & Commercial Contracts UK — Protection Guide
- Commercial Office Lease Guide UK
- Digital & IP Agreements Guide UK
Related Guides
- Renters’ Rights Act 2025 — Complete Landlord & Tenant Guide
- Landlord Checklist for the Renters’ Rights Act 2026
- Deposit Protection Notice Guide UK
- Assured Periodic Tenancy Template (Pet Clauses Included)
Free Legal Templates & Interactive Checklists
Access all our free UK legal templates, checklists and downloadable PDFs.
Last updated: May 2026
Disclaimer: This guide provides general UK legal information for England only, not legal advice.
Laws current as of May 2026 — Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Phase 1 takes effect 1 May 2026.
Always verify current requirements with official sources. Existing customers receive the updated template free in their My Templates page.
