Renters' Rights Act 2025 — Assured shorthold tenancies abolished 1 May 2026. All new tenancies in England must now be periodic. Old AST templates are no longer compliant. Learn about the abolition →
Periodic Tenancy Agreements — What Must Be Included
Since 1 May 2026, all new tenancies in England must be periodic. Old AST templates are no longer compliant. We explain what must and must not be included in a periodic tenancy agreement — and how PDA Law can draft one for you.
We do not provide template agreements for download. Every agreement we produce is drafted by a qualified solicitor, tailored to your property and circumstances, and compliant with the current law.
Our Approach
Why We Do Not Provide Template Agreements
We are frequently asked for a tenancy agreement template. We do not provide one — and for good reason.
A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract. If it contains prohibited clauses, fails to reflect the current law, or omits terms that protect your position, it can undermine your ability to recover possession, enforce your rights, or defend a claim by the tenant.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has fundamentally changed the law. Many templates available online — including those from well-known landlord associations — have not been updated to reflect the abolition of fixed-term tenancies, the new rent increase rules, and the prohibition on certain clauses.
We draft bespoke periodic tenancy agreements tailored to your property, your tenants, and the current law. Every agreement is reviewed by a qualified solicitor. We take responsibility for what we produce — something a template cannot offer.
The Risk of Using a Template
Template may not reflect Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes
May contain prohibited clauses (fixed-term provisions, banned fees)
May omit required terms (written statement obligation)
Cannot be tailored to your specific property or circumstances
No professional indemnity insurance covers template errors
Prohibited clauses are void — but may invalidate the whole agreement
Could undermine your ability to rely on Section 8 grounds
Required Content
What Must Be Included
The following are the key elements that a compliant periodic tenancy agreement must contain. This is not an exhaustive list — a solicitor-drafted agreement will include additional protective clauses tailored to your circumstances.
Parties & Property
- Full legal names of all landlords and tenants
- Address of the rental property
- Name and address of any agent acting for the landlord
- Section 48 address for service of notices on the landlord
Tenancy Terms
- Start date of the tenancy
- Confirmation that the tenancy is periodic (month to month)
- The rental period (monthly, weekly, etc.)
- Rent amount and payment date
- How rent is to be paid (bank transfer, etc.)
Deposit
- Deposit amount
- Which government-approved scheme the deposit is protected in
- Prescribed information (can be served separately but often included)
- Circumstances in which deductions may be made
Obligations
- Landlord's repairing obligations (cannot be excluded)
- Tenant's obligations — to keep the property clean, not to cause damage, etc.
- Obligations regarding gas safety, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
- Access rights for the landlord (with proper notice)
Possession & Notice
- Tenant's right to give 2 months' notice (cannot be excluded or shortened)
- Grounds on which the landlord may seek possession (Section 8)
- Notice requirements for Section 8 possession
Rent Increases
- Confirmation that rent can only be increased using a Section 13 notice
- Maximum frequency of rent increases (once per year)
- Tenant's right to challenge a rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal
Written statement obligation: Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords must provide a written statement of tenancy terms before the tenancy begins. This is a new legal requirement. Failure to comply can result in a financial penalty and may affect your ability to rely on certain Section 8 grounds.
Prohibited Clauses
What Must Not Be Included
The following clauses are prohibited or void under current law. Including them in a tenancy agreement does not make them enforceable — and may expose the landlord to penalties or undermine the agreement as a whole.
| Prohibited Clause | Why It Is Prohibited |
|---|---|
Fixed-term provisions | All new tenancies must be periodic. Any clause purporting to create a fixed term is void. |
Prohibited fees | The Tenant Fees Act 2019 prohibits charging tenants for referencing, administration, check-in, inventory, or renewal. Any such clause is unenforceable and may result in a fine. |
Exclusion of repairing obligations | Landlords cannot contract out of their statutory repairing obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Any such clause is void. |
Restriction on tenant's notice rights | Tenants have a statutory right to give 2 months' notice. Any clause purporting to extend this or restrict the right is void. |
Waiver of right to challenge rent increase | Tenants have a statutory right to refer a Section 13 rent increase to the First-tier Tribunal. This right cannot be excluded. |
Blanket pet prohibition | Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet. A blanket prohibition is likely to be unenforceable. |
Unfair terms | Any term that creates a significant imbalance between the parties to the detriment of the tenant may be unenforceable under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. |
Deposit exceeding the cap | The deposit cap is 5 weeks' rent (where annual rent is under £50,000). Any clause requiring a higher deposit is void and the excess must be returned. |
Our Services
Tenancy Agreement Drafting — PDA Law
Bespoke Periodic Tenancy Agreement
A fully compliant periodic tenancy agreement drafted by a qualified solicitor, tailored to your property, your tenants, and the current law.
Review of Existing Agreement
We review your existing tenancy agreement — whether an old AST or a template — and advise on whether it is compliant with the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Pre-Tenancy Compliance Check
We check that all required pre-tenancy documents are in order — EPC, gas safety certificate, How to Rent guide, deposit protection and written statement.
Ongoing Landlord Advice
We advise on rent increases, tenant requests (pets, alterations, subletting), and any issues that arise during the tenancy — including possession if needed.
Why Choose PDA Law
Specialist Landlord Solicitors
We act exclusively for landlords — not tenants. Our agreements are drafted to protect your position, reflect the current law, and give you the best possible foundation for the tenancy. We carry professional indemnity insurance for everything we produce.
- Qualified solicitors — not paralegals or AI-generated documents
- Up to date with Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes
- Fixed-fee drafting — no hidden costs
- Fast turnaround — agreements typically within 2–3 working days
FAQs
Common Questions About Tenancy Agreements
Is a written tenancy agreement legally required?
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords must provide a written statement of tenancy terms before a new tenancy begins. This is a new legal requirement — previously, a written agreement was strongly recommended but not strictly required. Failure to provide a written statement can affect your ability to rely on certain Section 8 grounds and may result in a financial penalty.
Can I use a template tenancy agreement?
You can use a template as a starting point, but we strongly advise against relying on a generic template without legal review. Templates downloaded from the internet may not reflect the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes, may contain prohibited clauses, or may omit terms that protect your position. A poorly drafted agreement can undermine your ability to recover possession or enforce your rights. We draft bespoke agreements tailored to your property and circumstances.
What clauses are prohibited in a tenancy agreement?
Prohibited clauses include: any clause purporting to create a fixed-term tenancy (all new tenancies must be periodic); any clause restricting the tenant's right to give 2 months' notice; any clause requiring the tenant to pay prohibited fees under the Tenant Fees Act 2019; any clause waiving the landlord's repairing obligations; any clause purporting to exclude the tenant's right to challenge a rent increase via the First-tier Tribunal; and any clause that is unfair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
What is a Section 48 notice and must it be in the tenancy agreement?
A Section 48 notice is a notice that landlords must serve on tenants providing an address in England or Wales at which notices can be served on the landlord. It does not have to be in the tenancy agreement — it can be served separately. However, including it in the agreement (or serving it alongside) is good practice. Failure to serve a valid Section 48 notice means rent is not technically due until it is served.
Why should I use a solicitor to draft my tenancy agreement rather than a template?
A solicitor-drafted agreement is tailored to your specific property, your tenants, and the current law. It will include clauses that protect your position — on repairs, alterations, subletting, pets, and possession — and will exclude prohibited clauses that could invalidate the agreement or expose you to liability. Given the significant changes under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, using an up-to-date, professionally drafted agreement is more important than ever.
Get Started
Request a Tenancy Agreement
Tell us about your property and tenancy and we will provide a fixed-fee quote for drafting a compliant periodic tenancy agreement. We typically turn around agreements within 2–3 working days.