This guidance, released by the Government on Friday 20 March 2026, contains all of the information that landlords must provide to tenants if;
- A tenancy is ‘entered into’ (i.e. signed) on or after 01 May 2026
Or, if;
- An existing Assured Shorthold Tenancy is in place on 01 May 2026 AND there is no written agreement in place (for example verbal tenancies).
The information contained in the guidance must be included in all tenancy agreements ‘entered into’ from 01 May 2026, the information can be given as the wording is, or the information can be incorporated into Assured Periodic Tenancy agreements. The exact wording does not need to be used but the specified information needs to be covered.
SWLA documentation will be updated for use as of 01 May 2026 – and we will be placing the ‘written information’ into this a new Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement. In the meantime, continue to use the existing SWLA Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement up to and including 30 April 2026.
The ‘Written information that must be given to tenants: guidance for landlords and agents’ document can be found here; Written_information_that_must_be_given_to_tenants-_landlord_guidance.pdf
Do not confuse this guidance with the ‘Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet’ – Private Rented Sector landlords with an existing Assured Shorthold Tenancy in place on 01 May 2026, that is in writing, must serve that document before 31 May 2026. More on that in the article here ; Government Release ‘The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026′ – South West Landlords Association
