What must be in a tenancy agreement in England

Written statement

Section 16D of the Housing Act 1988 requires landlords to provide a written statement of terms for assured tenancies. The Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) (England) Regulations 2025 set the form and content. See our written statement guide.

Core terms

A robust England private tenancy agreement should clearly cover:

• Parties, property address, and whether it is an assured periodic tenancy.
• Rent amount, due date, and payment method.
• Deposit amount and scheme (if any).
• Tenant and landlord repair responsibilities.
• Access for repairs and safety checks.
• How rent may be increased (section 13 / Form 4A route).
• Subletting, pets, and prohibited uses.
• Ending the tenancy — tenant notice and landlord grounds.

Statutory duties

Some obligations cannot be contracted out. Examples include gas safety, electrical standards, deposit protection, and fitness under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Your agreement should not ask the tenant to ignore GOV.UK landlord duties.

Also provide the How to Rent guide, complete right to rent checks, and supply safety certificates.

Signing

SignWise gives you a PDF (and Word where offered) to sign with the tenant on paper or with your own e-signature tool. Keep the signed copy safe alongside the inventory and compliance records.