Tenancy Agreement Service

Helping UK landlords navigate the legal system since 2007. Find the right legal documents, understand what’s changing under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and know when to get qualified professional advice.

Where to start

Most landlords arriving here need one of four things:

What’s happening in UK landlord law right now

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 takes effect on 1 May 2026 in the largest single change to landlord-tenant law in three and a half decades. Section 21 evictions are abolished, fixed-term tenancies are gone, rent review clauses become unenforceable, and every existing tenant must receive a government Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. Most pre-existing landlord templates and processes need to change.

The TAS approach is editorial: we explain what the framework requires, link to authoritative primary sources, and point readers to up-to-date templates and qualified professional support. We don’t give legal advice — we help you find the right documents and the right people to talk to.

Browse by topic

• All legal documents and templates — tenancy agreements, possession notices, deposit forms, surrender forms, and more.
• Court forms — N5 (claim for possession), N9 (acknowledgment of service), N11R, N119, N121, N215, N325 — guidance on each.
• Landlord laws and legislation — Housing Act 1988, Housing Act 2004, RRA 2025, Deregulation Act, Right to Rent, and other key statutes.
• Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) — licensing, amenity standards, and tenancy considerations for multi-let properties.
• Wales — the separate framework under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and standard occupation contracts.
• Property management — gas safety, EICR, EPC, fire safety, deposit protection.
• Tenant management — communication, inspections, anti-social behaviour, abandonment, and end of tenancy.
• Lodger agreements — for resident landlords letting a room in their own home. Sits outside the RRA framework.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tenancy agreement?

A tenancy agreement is a contract between a landlord and a tenant that grants the tenant the right to occupy a residential property in exchange for rent. In England, residential tenancies are usually assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) governed by the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025). For more detail, see our tenancy agreement template page.

Do I legally need a written tenancy agreement?

No. A tenancy can be created orally and remains legally binding. However, a written agreement is strongly advisable for both landlord and tenant — it sets out clear terms, supports deposit protection compliance, and is essential evidence in any later dispute. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords with wholly oral existing tenancies face additional obligations to provide written documentation by 31 May 2026.

Are existing tenancy templates RRA-compliant?

Templates drafted before late 2025 are unlikely to be RRA-compliant in their original form. Reputable template providers including Net Lawman have updated their templates for the new framework. For new tenancies signed on or after 1 May 2026, an updated template that reflects the abolition of fixed terms, the new pet request process, and the upfront-rent restrictions is essential.

What’s changed under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025?

The headline changes: Section 21 evictions are abolished; all assured tenancies become periodic by default; rent review clauses are unenforceable; upfront rent is capped at one month; tenants gain a statutory right to request pets; existing assured tenancies must be served the official Information Sheet between 1 and 31 May 2026. For the full picture see our RRA 2025 guide.

Do I need a solicitor to be a landlord?

For most routine letting, no — a properly drafted tenancy agreement template, paired with care over statutory obligations (deposit protection, gas safety, EICR, right-to-rent checks), is sufficient. A practising solicitor is genuinely valuable when you face possession proceedings, when a tenancy has unusual features (company tenants, mixed-use property, listed buildings), or when something has gone wrong. The Law Society’s Find a Solicitor service is the official starting point.

What’s the difference between a tenancy and a licence?

A tenancy gives the occupier exclusive possession of the property and the protections of housing legislation. A licence (such as a lodger arrangement where the landlord lives in the property) gives only permission to occupy, with far fewer statutory protections. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 amends the Housing Act 1988 — which only governs tenancies — so lodger arrangements sit outside the RRA framework entirely. See our lodger agreement page for detail.

Recently updated

• Renters’ Rights Act 2025: A Landlord’s Guide — comprehensive guide to Phase 1 changes from 1 May 2026.
• Section 8 notice and Schedule 2 grounds — the post-RRA route to possession.
• Section 13 rent increase notice — the new Form 4A and Tribunal challenge process.
• Tenancy deposit protection notice — the prescribed information requirement.
• N5 claim form for possession — court procedure for possession proceedings.