Landlords should provide all tenants with information about their tenancy. The minimum requirements are:
-
for an assured shorthold tenancy (or ‘AST’, the most common tenancy type) in England - that a written statement of terms is provided to the tenant within 28 days of their requesting one
-
for an occupation contract in Wales - that a written statement of the occupation contract is given to contract holders within 14 days of the date they were entitled to move into the property (or ‘dwelling’)
This information is usually provided in the form of a Tenancy agreement in England, and always as a written statement of an occupation contract in Wales.
Having a full written contract is a good way of ensuring both parties are aware of their rights and obligations, and it provides evidence of this that can be used if a dispute arises down the line.
Tenancy deposit information
Landlords must provide tenants with certain prescribed information about their tenancy deposit within 30 days of receiving their deposit. This ensures tenants are made aware of their rights during and at the end of the tenancy. It includes:
-
details of the tenancy deposit scheme
-
information on how the deposit is protected
-
how to apply to get their deposit back
-
what to do if there's a dispute
Other information
Landlords must also give the tenant:
-
an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property
-
a current gas safety certificate if the property uses gas
-
a copy of the Government’s free ‘How to rent’ guide, if the property is located in England
-
In Wales, it’s good practice to give contract holders a copy of Rent Smart Wales’ similar guide ‘A Home in the Private Sector: a Guide for Tenants in Wales’
-
-
an electrical condition report
-
certain basic information about the landlord (eg their name and address)
If you don't give the tenant this information, you will not be able to serve a No fault eviction notice (ie a Section 21 (Form 6A) notice for England or a Section 173 notice for Wales) to them in future.