Written statement
Written statement of tenancy terms in England
Section 16D written statements: what must be included, when to give them, and how they relate to your tenancy agreement.
Last reviewed: 15 October 2026 · About 8 min read · England only
The law
Section 16D of the Housing Act 1988 requires landlords of assured tenancies in England to give tenants a written statement of certain terms. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 and 2025 regulations updated the form landlords must use.
What to include
Prescribed matters include, among other items:
- Names of landlord and tenant.
- Address of the property.
- Rent, period, and payment arrangements.
- Deposit arrangements.
- Term or periodic nature of the tenancy.
- Information about bills and utilities where required.
Use the current statutory form in the 2025 Assured Tenancies Forms Regulations or a document that contains equivalent information in the required structure.
When to give it
Provide the written statement at or before the tenancy starts in most cases. If terms change, update the statement as regulations require.
This is in addition to — not instead of — the How to Rent guide and safety certificates.
SignWise WS and TA
The SignWise tenancy agreement (TA) embeds Part A as the written statement, so you do not maintain two conflicting documents. If you already have your own contract, use the standalone written statement (WS) product to generate only the section 16D statement from your answers.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a written statement the same as the tenancy agreement?
- The written statement is the set of prescribed terms you must provide. It can be Part A of a longer tenancy agreement or a separate document.
- What if I miss the deadline?
- Tenants may apply to the court for an order requiring a written statement and may be awarded compensation in some cases. Provide terms promptly at the start of the tenancy.
SignWise is a self-serve document preparation service operated by Ditra (established in Spain). SignWise is not a law firm, is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), does not provide legal advice, and does not carry on reserved legal activities under the Legal Services Act 2007 (section 12 and Schedule 2, paragraph 5). You prepare your document from your answers, review it carefully, and sign it yourself. SignWise is not responsible for legal outcomes. Seek independent legal advice if you are unsure whether a document suits your property or circumstances.
This guide is general information for landlords in England. It is not legal advice. Laws and official forms change; check the linked GOV.UK and legislation pages for the latest position.