Can I still agree a fixed term in England?

No. Since 1 May 2026, fixed terms are no longer valid for assured tenancies in England — tenancies are periodic and continue until ended in line with the law. That’s one of the biggest reasons older “12-month AST” templates are now out of date for England. Wales and Scotland are different.

How much deposit can I take, and how do I protect it?

In England, a tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is under £50,000 (six weeks at or above that). The deposit must be protected in a government-authorised scheme and the prescribed information given to the tenant, generally within 30 days. Rent in advance is limited too. These are the England rules; check the current position for your property.

What written information do I have to give the tenant?

In England, landlords must give the tenant a written statement of the tenancy terms before the tenancy is signed, and there are separate information requirements for tenancies that carried over from the old rules. Failing to provide the required information can carry a financial penalty (reported as up to £7,000). GitLaw prepares the written statement alongside the agreement. Not legal advice — confirm the current requirements.

How do I raise the rent now that Section 21 is gone?

In England, rent increases on a periodic assured tenancy go through the statutory process: you can raise the rent once every 12 months, using the prescribed form, giving at least two months’ notice, and the tenant can challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal. GitLaw prepares the notice and tells you when you’re next allowed to use it.

Does this apply to Wales, Scotland, or a US rental?

The Renters’ Rights Act applies to England only. Wales uses occupation contracts under its own legislation, and Scotland uses private residential tenancies — different documents, different rules, which we don’t blur together. For a US rental, GitLaw generates a residential lease shaped to your state, with the federal lead-paint disclosure for pre-1978 properties and other state-specific disclosures flagged.

Free · UK & US · no card

Create a tenancy agreement — free

A tenancy agreement built for the rules that actually apply now. In England, that means the post-Renters’-Rights-Act format; in the US, a lease shaped to your state. No card, no trial, no membership.

Built for the current rules

England, Wales, Scotland & US aware

No card, no trial, no membership

5.0 out of 5 on Google

Read reviews

As featured in

How a tenancy agreement actually works now

Four steps — starting from a document that’s actually up to date

The hard part isn’t filling in a form — it’s that the format changed. In England, the Renters’ Rights Act rewrote how tenancies work from 1 May 2026. Most templates online haven’t caught up. GitLaw starts you from one that has.

Example first page of a tenancy agreement for 14 Alder Road, Manchester M20 3AB, prepared 6 August 2026. This is a sample — your own agreement is generated from your details.

UK compliance checklist

Letting in England comes with obligations beyond the agreement itself. GitLaw gives you a plain-language checklist to work through — for example: protecting the deposit and serving the prescribed information; giving a current gas safety certificate and an EICR; providing an Energy Performance Certificate; fitting smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms; and carrying out right-to-rent checks. These are pointers, not legal advice, and rules differ in Wales and Scotland. Check the current requirements for your property before you let.

No credit card required. Edit and re-download any time.

The tenancy “templates” online are mostly out of date

On 1 May 2026 the Renters’ Rights Act changed how tenancies work in England — no more Section 21, no more fixed terms, assured periodic tenancies instead. A lot of the free templates still floating around are for the old format, which no longer applies in England.

1 May 2026When the main Renters’ Rights Act changes took effect in England

AbolishedSection 21 “no-fault” evictions in England, for new and existing tenancies

Up to £7,000Reported penalty for failing to give the tenant the required written information

Sources: gov.uk Renters’ Rights Act guidance and written-information guidance. The Act applies to England only — Wales and Scotland have their own systems. Figures are current at publication and not legal advice.

Create your tenancy agreement free

Who’s drafting this

GitLaw is an AI agent for your legal documents

It generates the agreement, keeps it current with the rules, and versions your documents — and it’s clear about what applies where. It’s not a lawyer and doesn’t give legal advice.

Built for the current rulesThe England agreement follows the post-Renters’-Rights-Act format — assured periodic tenancy, no Section 21, no fixed term, and the mandatory written statement of terms.

Right jurisdiction, no blurringEngland, Wales (occupation contracts) and Scotland (private residential tenancies) work differently — we don’t pretend they’re the same. In the US, the lease is shaped to your state.

Honest about complianceWe tell you plainly what letting involves beyond the agreement — deposits, safety certificates, disclosures — and point you to the current requirements rather than guessing.

Explore GitLaw

Built for your legal work, with practicing lawyers

Trained on 5.5K+ clauses and specialist areas of law. Built with a standards committee of independent lawyers.

Portrait headshots of the independent lawyers on the GitLaw standards committee

Trusted by thousands of businesses

5.0

Based on 26 reviews

299

Upvotes on Product Hunt

in AI Contract Assistant

“I found GitLaw to be extremely useful and convenient in helping draft a contract. It has tracking, an easy to understand and familiar interface and has saved thousands of dollars in fees.”

Michael Hawkes