Legal Documents for UK Landlords

Welcome to the legal documents section of Tenancy Agreement Service. This is where you’ll find the contracts, notices, and supporting documents that residential landlords need — from the tenancy agreement itself through to possession notices, inventories, guarantor agreements, and end-of-tenancy paperwork. Each page covers one type of document: what it does, when you need it, what to look for in a quality template, and where to get one. Where the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has affected the templates currently available (in force since 1 May 2026), we’ve flagged that clearly and suspended the recommendation pending RRA-compliant fulfilment.

Documents covered in this section

This is the legal documents section of Tenancy Agreement Service. Each page below covers one type of document a residential landlord (or in some cases a tenant) commonly needs — what the document does, when it’s needed, what good looks like, and where to get one. Where we recommend a third-party provider for fulfilment, the recommendation is clearly disclosed and you can read about how our affiliate model works on our affiliate policy page.

Some documents are not currently available with an active recommendation because the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (in force from 1 May 2026) has rendered older versions of those templates unsuitable for new tenancies. The educational content on those pages remains live and accurate, but the recommendation is suspended pending fulfilment that complies with the new framework. We’ve flagged this clearly wherever it applies.

Tenancy agreements

The principal contract between landlord and tenant. The right type depends on the property, the tenant’s circumstances, and (for England) the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 framework that came into force on 1 May 2026.

• Tenancy Agreement — the general residential tenancy agreement for letting any English residential property.
• Furnished Tenancy Agreement — for lets where the property is furnished, with attention to inventory and the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
• Unfurnished Tenancy Agreement — for lets where the property is let unfurnished or with white goods only.
• Pets-Allowed Tenancy Agreement — for lets where the tenant keeps pets, with appropriate conditions on damage and insurance.
• Room-Only / Houseshare Tenancy Agreement — for letting a single room in a shared property where each tenant has an individual contract.
• HMO Tenancy Agreement — for letting rooms in a property that meets the definition of a House in Multiple Occupation.
• Student Tenancy Agreement — for letting to students, typically structured around the academic year.
• Specialist Tenancies — common law tenancies and company let agreements for situations where the standard assured tenancy framework does not apply.
• Holiday Letting Agreement — for short-term holiday lets which fall outside the residential tenancy framework.

Wales — separate framework

Wales operates an entirely separate residential tenancy framework under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, in force since 1 December 2022. Welsh tenancies are occupation contracts, not assured shortholds, and the documents are different.

• Standard Occupation Contract (Wales) — the principal contract for letting residential property in Wales.

Lodger arrangements

A lodger lives in the same property as the landlord and occupies on a licence rather than a tenancy — different legal framework, different document, and (helpfully for the landlord) substantially less protected by the assured tenancy regime.

• Lodger Agreement — licence to occupy a room in the landlord’s own home.

Possession notices

Notices that begin the formal process of recovering possession. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 “no-fault” possession is abolished for new assured tenancies; Section 8 (with the grounds in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988, substantially amended by the RRA 2025) becomes the principal route.

• Section 8 Notice — the formal notice seeking possession on one or more of the statutory grounds.

Tenancy management notices

Less commonly used notices that arise during the life of a tenancy when something specific changes.

• Tenancy Management Notices — combined guide to Schedule 2A notices (proposing an AST), Section 6(2) notices (proposing different terms for a statutory periodic tenancy), and Section 48 notices (notification of landlord’s address for service).

End of tenancy

Documents for ending a tenancy by mutual agreement rather than through court possession proceedings.

• Surrender of Tenancy — combined guide covering forms to surrender a tenancy and the deed of surrender used to formalise the agreement.

Supporting documents

Documents that supplement a tenancy agreement or address specific compliance requirements during the tenancy.

• Property Inventory — the schedule of contents and condition at tenancy start, essential for protecting the deposit.
• Tenancy Deposit Protection Notice — the prescribed information that must be provided to the tenant within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
• Guarantor / Rent Guarantee Agreement — bringing a guarantor into the tenancy, typically for tenants who cannot meet affordability checks alone.

Landlord business documents

Documents for managing the landlord’s business of letting property — appointing a managing agent and engaging contractors for repairs and maintenance.

• Landlord Business Documents — combined guide covering letting agent agreements and landlord’s terms for property repairs.

How our legal-documents pages work

Each page in this section covers one document type with the same structure. We open with the legal context — what the document does, when it’s needed, and the current statutory framework (RRA 2025-aware where relevant). We then explain what to look for in a quality template, recommend a fulfilment route where one is available, and finish with FAQ and links to the broader guidance on the site.

Where a recommendation is suspended (because the available templates are no longer fit for purpose under current law), we say so on the page itself — the educational content is still useful for understanding what you need, but we don’t link to a product we cannot honestly recommend.

If you want to understand more about the underlying law, the editorial side of the site — particularly our Renters’ Rights Act 2025 guide — covers the substantive framework these documents sit within.

Pricing and what you get

Where we link to a third-party provider (currently Net Lawman is our only affiliate partner), the page tells you what you’ll receive: the document format, the contents, the process for getting it, and the price. Net Lawman’s residential templates currently range from a few pounds for short notices and forms to around £42 for the more substantial business documents like the letting agent agreement. All Net Lawman templates come with a money-back guarantee if the document does not suit your circumstances. The educational content on each page is free.

Important note about legal advice

Templates — including the ones we recommend — are generic legal documents. They are not advice on your specific tenancy, property, or situation. For straightforward typical lets, a competent template is usually adequate; for unusual circumstances, contentious situations, or high-value properties, a practising solicitor’s input is often justified. Tenancy Agreement Service is not a law firm and the content on this site is general legal information, not personal legal advice.