The Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed the document requirements for English landlords more fundamentally than any legislation since the Housing Act 1988. The Assured Shorthold Tenancy is replaced by the Periodic Assured Tenancy. Section 21 notices are abolished. Section 8 now uses Form 3A. Rent increases require Form 4A.
LetSafe UK publishes 38 landlord document templates across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — each reviewed against the current statute and carrying a dated footer so you can demonstrate currency.
Documents every England landlord needs in 2026
Post-commencement (1 May 2026), the core landlord document stack in England has changed:
- Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement (LS-E-001, £29) — required for every new letting from 1 May 2026. Replaces the AST. Includes the prescribed Written Statement of Terms.
- Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack (LS-E-130, £39) — for landlords with existing tenancies that auto-converted. Includes Information Sheet, Revised Written Statement, tenant notification letter.
- Section 8 Notice Pack (LS-E-010, £19) — Form 3A with all 18 grounds, serving guidance, evidence checklists.
- Section 13 Rent Increase Pack (LS-E-011, £19) — Form 4A, calculation worksheet, Tribunal referral guide.
- Information Sheet Serving Pack (LS-E-100, £14.99) — government-prescribed Information Sheet, covering email template, service log.
Documents that have changed since 1 May 2026
The following documents used before 1 May 2026 are now either invalid or superseded:
- Section 21 notices — invalid. Abolished permanently. Serving one carries a civil penalty of up to £7,000.
- Section 8 Form 3 — revoked. Form 3A is the only valid form from 1 May 2026.
- Section 13 Form 4 — revoked. Form 4A is the only valid form from 1 May 2026.
- Fixed-term AST agreements — unlawful for new lettings. Existing ASTs auto-converted to APTs on 1 May 2026.
- Contractual rent review clauses — no legal effect in Periodic Assured Tenancies. Section 13 is the only route.
Compliance documents by category
LetSafe UK covers all landlord document categories:
- Tenancy agreements: Periodic Assured Tenancy, HMO per-room, lodger agreement, Welsh Occupation Contract, Scottish Private Residential Tenancy, NI private tenancy
- Transition documents: Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack, Revised Written Statement of Terms
- Possession notices: Section 8 Notice Pack (all grounds), Ground 1A sale notice
- Rent increase: Section 13 / Form 4A pack with calculator
- Compliance packs: Information Sheet serving kit, Awaab's Law response log, deposit protection documents
- Deposit documents: Deposit prescribed information, deposit deductions letter, inventory framework
- Bundles: New Landlord Starter Pack, Portfolio Landlord Compliance Bundle, HMO Compliance Bundle
Why document currency matters
Every LetSafe document carries a dated footer showing the statutory instruments it has been reviewed against. This lets you demonstrate, in any dispute or enforcement action, that your document was regulation-current at the time you used it.
Outdated documents carry real legal risk. A Section 8 notice served on the old Form 3 after 1 May 2026 is invalid and must be re-served — losing weeks from your notice period. A rent increase served on old Form 4 has no legal effect.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord documents are required by law in England in 2026?+
Before a tenancy starts: EPC, Gas Safety Record (CP12), EICR, How to Rent guide (current edition), Right to Rent check records. At tenancy start: Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement with Written Statement of Terms, deposit Prescribed Information (if a deposit is taken). From 1 May 2026 for existing tenants: Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.
Is a Section 21 notice still a valid landlord document?+
No. Section 21 is permanently abolished from 1 May 2026. Serving a Section 21 notice carries a civil penalty of up to £7,000. The only valid possession notice is Section 8 Form 3A.
What is the difference between Form 3 and Form 3A?+
Form 3 was the prescribed Section 8 notice form before 1 May 2026. Form 3A is the new prescribed form from 1 May 2026, updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025 grounds. Form 3 is revoked — a notice on Form 3 served on or after 1 May 2026 is invalid.
Do landlord compliance documents need to be updated every year?+
Not annually, but you should use the current version whenever you create or serve a document. LetSafe issues free updates to all purchased documents whenever a relevant statutory amendment requires one. Purchases include lifetime re-downloads.