Written statement of terms
The document a private landlord in England must give a tenant before a tenancy is made, setting out the key terms the law lists. Required since 1 May 2026.
In short: The written statement of terms is a document required by section 16D of the Housing Act 1988, given before the tenancy is entered into. It sets out the parties, the home, the rent, the deposit and other terms the regulations list. A landlord who fails to give it can be fined by the council.
Tenancies and agreementsThe Renters’ Rights Act
England. Checked against the law on 5 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.
What it must contain is set by the Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet Regulations 2026: among other things the names of the landlord and tenants, the address, the rent and how it is paid, the deposit, who pays which bills, the landlord's address for notices and some of the possession grounds the landlord may rely on.
- It is given before the tenancy starts, so the tenant can read it before signing.
- It can be part of a tenancy agreement, as long as everything the law asks for is in it.
- Missing it can lead to a civil penalty from the council (up to £7,000), and it is the landlord's duty even when an agent does the paperwork.
For tenancies that began before 1 May 2026 with a written agreement, the Information Sheet was the requirement instead.
Read more: The assured periodic tenancy explained
Related: Information Sheet, Civil penalty
Where this comes from
Questions people ask
Is the written statement the same as a tenancy agreement?
Not necessarily. It is a list of terms the law requires. An agreement can serve as the written statement if it includes everything the regulations list.
Guides on this
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