Tenancy agreement template (free preview, 2026 law)
Looking for a tenancy agreement template? Start with one warning: the law changed on 1 May 2026, and most templates you'll find – including some ranking highly on Google – were written for the old regime. Assured shorthold tenancies, fixed terms and Section 21 have all been abolished in England.
How to tell if a template is out of date
- It calls itself an "assured shorthold tenancy" or "AST".
- It contains a fixed term ("a term of 12 months from…").
- It refers to Section 21, "no-fault" possession, or serving two months' notice to end the tenancy as landlord.
- It has no mention of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 or written tenancy information.
Any one of these means the document pre-dates the current law.
Free template vs customised agreement
Free generic templates exist, including official guidance on gov.uk, and for some landlords they're enough. The gap is customisation: your deposit scheme, your pet position, joint tenants, bills, garden maintenance, and the clauses you'd actually rely on in a dispute. PeriodicTenancy gives you a free customised preview; you pay a one-off £25 only if you want to download the complete pack with written tenancy information and a compliance checklist.
Create your compliant agreement in 10 minutes
Answer a short questionnaire. Get a Renters' Rights Act-compliant periodic tenancy agreement, written tenancy information, and a landlord compliance checklist, customised to your tenancy.
Start my agreement →Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
This template is for England. Wales uses occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act – see our Wales template guide. Scotland uses private residential tenancies; Northern Ireland has its own regime.
Frequently asked questions
Are free tenancy agreement templates legally valid?
A signed agreement is binding either way, but most free templates predate the Renters' Rights Act and misstate the law: fixed terms, Section 21, rent review clauses and deposit wording that no longer apply.
What type of tenancy agreement applies in England now?
The assured periodic tenancy. ASTs and fixed terms were abolished on 1 May 2026, so every new agreement should be drafted as a monthly periodic tenancy under the Renters' Rights Act.
What happens if my agreement contradicts the Act?
The Act prevails. Terms inconsistent with tenants' statutory rights are unenforceable, and information failures around the agreement can attract civil penalties of up to £7,000.