Your tenancy agreement is the document that governs your relationship with your landlord. It sets out what you're each responsible for, what you can and can't do in the property, how much rent you pay, and how the tenancy can be ended. It can be written or verbal, though a written agreement is far more common and much easier to rely on if a disagreement arises.
Since the Renters' Rights Act 2025, all private tenancies are periodic, so your agreement won't contain a fixed end date. However, the other terms (rent amount, notice periods, maintenance responsibilities, restrictions on alterations, pet policies, and so on) still apply.
If you have a written tenancy agreement, read it carefully before signing. Pay particular attention to clauses about deposit deductions, cleaning standards, and what counts as damage versus normal use. If there are terms you don't understand or that seem unfair, seek advice before signing. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, unfair contract terms in a tenancy agreement can be challenged and may be unenforceable.
If your landlord doesn't provide a written tenancy agreement, the Renters' Rights Act requires them to provide a written summary of the main terms on or before May 31st, 2026 for existing tenancies.
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