The government has confirmed what information must be included in new tenancy agreements for the Renters’ Rights Act.
Landlords will need to give this information when creating a new tenancy on or after 1 May 2026.
If landlords are using a new tenancy agreement after 1 May 2026, they must include certain information such as:
- Your name (or the name of the landlord, if you are a letting agent or property manager acting on a landlord’s behalf) and the name of any joint landlords you let the property with.
- A postal address in England or Wales where the tenant can send legal notices to you, for example a notice to end the tenancy. This does not need to be your home address, but it must be an address where you can receive post. This could include a business address.
The government explain that landlords do not have to provide an email address or phone number, but they can choose to do so if they would like the tenant to be able to contact them.
The government say this could be helpful if you would like tenants to report repairs by phone or email.
Landlords can also choose to include the contact details of a property manager or letting agent, if they have one, but they are not required to do so.
However, the government point out that landlords must ensure they have permission from the letting agent to include their contact details.
Name and address
Other information that must be included in tenancy agreements include:
- Tenant(s) name – Landlords must include the names of all tenants, including joint tenants.
- Property address – Landlords must include the address of the property where the tenant will live.
- Tenancy start date – Landlords must include the date the tenant is first entitled to possession of the property. This means the first day when they are allowed to move into the property.
- Rent amount and when it is due – must include the amount of rent and when payment is due.
- Rent increases – Landlords must include a statement that if you make a new proposal to increase the rent, you will serve a notice on your tenant in accordance with Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988.
Explain which bills are covered
If the rent amount includes bills, then landlords must explain which bills are covered.
The government explains landlords do not need to say how much of the rent covers the cost of bills, but landlords can choose to include this if they wish.
Landlords may decide to ask tenants to make separate payments to them or someone else connected to them for the purpose of paying bills. If they do this, landlords must explain:
- What bills any separate payment will cover
- How much is due for each bill — or an explanation of how and when the tenant will be told this information
- When each bill payment is due — or an explanation of how and when the tenant will be told this information
Landlords only need to give tenants this information for certain bills. These are:
- Council tax
- Utilities, including electricity, gas or other fuel, water, and sewageA TV licence
- Communications services, including telephone, internet, cable TV and satellite TV
- Energy efficiency improvements under a green deal plan
Landlords only need to give this information for bills that are covered by the rent or which tenants must pay to them separately. Landlords do not need to explain which bills the tenant is responsible for arranging or paying directly to the supplier.
Important exception
Landlords must include the amount of the tenancy deposit, if they have taken one or plan to take one from their tenant.
The government explains “rules on tenancy deposits mean landlords must give specific information to tenants within 30 days of receiving the money. For example, this includes which government-approved scheme the deposit is or will be protected in.
This information does not have to be provided at the same time as the other tenancy information listed, but it can be if landlords wish to do so.”
Landlords must also include the minimum amount of notice a tenant must give when serving notice to end the tenancy, as well as information about landlords ending a tenancy, such as through an order for possession.
However, the government have clarified an important exception “the only circumstance where a landlord would not need to obtain an order for possession is where the Secretary of State has given written notice that the occupier is disqualified from occupying premises under a residential tenancy agreement because of their immigration status.
In this circumstance, the landlord should instead serve the occupier with a notice to end the tenancy under the relevant immigration legislation.”
Right to request a pet
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will be able to request a pet, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. The government say a statement confirming this must be included in new tenancy agreements.
Other required information includes a statement that the landlord must ensure the property is fit for human habitation and details of the landlord’s obligations under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
The government also says that if there is only a verbal tenancy agreement (even if it began before 1 May 2026), landlords will still need to provide this information.
Landlords likely to have stricter tenant vetting process
Most landlords intend to introduce a more stringent tenant selection process to counter the tougher eviction rules coming next month.
Paragon’s survey of 500 landlords found that 69% will introduce more in-depth checks for prospective tenants to reduce their risk of having to go down the eviction process, with 70% also stating they will also become more selective about where they advertise their properties.
Although three quarters feel prepared for the Renters Rights Act commencement day on May 1, some 42% said the end of Section 21 evictions will have the greatest impact on their business.
Some 43% are concerned about the risk of problematic tenants, such as those in rental arrears or demonstrating anti-social behaviour.
In the past 12 months, over half of landlords (51%) said they had experienced at least one incidence of rent arrears or a late rental payment.
Additionally, 27% had dealt with anti-social behaviour from tenants, 22% experienced tenants staying in the property longer than intended and 18% suffered damage caused by pets.
Nearly two thirds of landlords (65%) called on the government to implement faster court processes to minimise delays in the eviction process under the new Section 8 regime.
Additionally, 39% said that the number of mandatory grounds for possession needs to be increase.
With just over one third (35%) of landlords expecting the Renters Rights Act to impact them financially, they are also planning for the costs of compliance to remain profitable.
Over half, 53%, say they will consider increasing rent, 37% plan to review pricing more frequently and 18% will look to make cost savings across their portfolios, potentially changing the level or frequency of maintenance and white goods replacement.
Lisa Steele, Paragon Bank Mortgage Lending Director, said “the Act represents a major policy shift, and landlords are adapting their approach accordingly. Given the pressures expected on the courts through the change to the eviction process, landlords are understandably planning to make more expansive checks on prospective tenants as they don’t want the cost and time involved in a lengthy eviction process.
This creates challenges for those new to the rental market who have not yet built-up a tenant reference history, as well as those with infrequent income schedules. This was always the challenge for the RRA; while in brings in extra protections, it could exclude some of those tenants at the periphery of the market.”
Government also releases new Renters Rights Act guides
The government has released a batch of Renters Rights Act guides, mostly aimed at private tenants.
One is ‘Notices of possession served before 1 May 2026’ – this covers what happens when a landlord gives notice before 1 May 2026 to private tenants to leave their home, and outlines the court and evictions process if the tenant does not leave.
There is also ‘Notices of possession served after 1 May 2026' – a guide for tenants who are renting from a private landlord and who receive a notice from May onwards, when the Renters Rights Act is in effect.
Also issued this week is a guide to the ‘Tenant Fees Act 2019’ – outlining what fees and payments an agent or landlord can ask for.
A further guide looks at ‘Rent Repayment Orders offences’ – it lists the offences a landlord or agent can commit and how tenants can prove the offence was committed when applying for a Rent Repayment Order.
There’s also a guide for private tenants on ‘Rental Discrimination’ – this lists what landlords, letting agents, referencing services, friends or family members must do to avoid discriminating against tenants.
You can see the guides here