Tenancy agreement form UK

A tenancy agreement form is the written document that records the terms agreed between a landlord and tenant at the start of a tenancy. It is the practical output of the tenancy agreement, the form is the document itself, whether produced from a template, drafted by a solicitor, published by a landlord association, or generated by a property management platform. From 1 May 2026, all landlords in the private rented sector in England are legally required to provide a written tenancy agreement form under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Mandatory content under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the gov.uk guidance published in January 2026 set out the minimum content every private sector tenancy agreement form in England must include. A compliant form must state the names of all landlords and tenants, the address of the property, the date the tenant can first occupy the property, the rent amount and the date it is due, any bills included in the rent, any bills payable to the landlord separately (for example, utilities), and the deposit amount if one is being taken.

What a well-drafted form should also cover

Beyond the statutory minimum, a well-drafted tenancy agreement form addresses several further points that are not mandatory but are practically important for both parties. These include the notice period the tenant must give to end the tenancy (at least two months under the Renters' Rights Act 2025), confirmation that the landlord can normally only end the tenancy by obtaining a possession order through the court using a Section 8 notice citing specific grounds for possession, and a summary of the landlord's repairing obligations under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the obligation to ensure the property is fit for human habitation under Section 9A.

A comprehensive form should also include a summary of the landlord's gas and electrical safety obligations, the landlord's obligations to allow reasonable adaptations for disability under the Equality Act 2010, a summary of the pet provisions introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025, under which the landlord must consider pet requests in good faith and cannot refuse unreasonably, and, where applicable, confirmation of the tenancy type if it is granted as supported accommodation. These additional provisions protect both parties by making expectations explicit and reducing the risk of disputes during the tenancy.

What the form cannot include

A tenancy agreement form for a private residential letting in England cannot include a fixed end date, a break clause, or any provision that purports to make the tenancy end automatically. All private tenancies from 1 May 2026 are assured periodic tenancies, fixed terms are abolished. Any such clause is void and unenforceable regardless of whether the tenant signed it.

The form also cannot include prohibited payments under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, discriminatory conditions relating to children or benefit receipt, clauses that restrict the tenant's right to make a reasonable pet request, or provisions that purport to allow the landlord to re-enter the property without a court order.

Where to get a compliant tenancy agreement form

Landlord associations, including the NRLA, publish standard tenancy agreement forms that are updated to reflect the current legal position, including the post-Renters' Rights Act requirements. Solicitors and letting agents also produce them. Landlords should exercise caution with generic online templates that may not have been updated since 1 May 2026, a non-compliant form that still refers to fixed terms, Section 21, or pre-RRA assured shorthold tenancy rules creates risk at both the possession and deposit dispute stages.

For a full explanation of what has changed for templates from 1 May 2026, including why pre-RRA templates are non-compliant and the complete mandatory content checklist, see the August guide to tenancy agreement templates in 2026.

The form should be signed by all named parties, each landlord and each individual tenant, before the tenancy begins. A copy must be given to every tenant named on the agreement. Prescribed information relating to any deposit taken must be served separately within 30 days of receipt, even if deposit details are referenced within the tenancy form itself.

August's document management feature stores signed tenancy agreement forms, prescribed information, and associated documents in one place, linked to the correct property and tenancy record.

For the complete checklist of what a tenancy agreement must contain from 1 May 2026, and what to do with tenancies that were already in place before that date, see the August tenancy agreement guide.

Frequently asked questions

What must a tenancy agreement form include in England?

Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, a private sector tenancy agreement form in England must include: the names of all landlords and tenants; the property address; the date the tenant can first occupy; the rent amount and due date; any bills included in the rent or payable separately; and the deposit amount if one is taken. A well-drafted form will also cover notice periods, the landlord's repairing obligations, safety certificate obligations, pet request provisions, and the possession process.

Can a tenancy agreement form still include a fixed end date?

No. From 1 May 2026, all private residential tenancies in England are assured periodic tenancies. A tenancy agreement form cannot include a fixed end date, a break clause, or any provision that purports to make the tenancy end automatically. Any such clause is void regardless of whether the tenant signed the form.

Where can landlords get a compliant tenancy agreement form?

The NRLA and other landlord associations publish standard forms updated to reflect current law. Solicitors and letting agents also produce them. Landlords should be cautious about using generic online templates that may not have been updated to reflect the Renters' Rights Act 2025 requirements that came into force on 1 May 2026.