What to expect at the start of a tenancy

Once a new home has been found, and a tenancy agreed, there are certain documents that the landlord or agent must provide you with:

  • A written tenancy agreement

From 1st May 2026 all new tenants must be provided with written information about key terms of their tenancy including:

    • The landlord’s name and address
    • The property address
    • The tenancy start date
    • The rent amount and when it is due
    • How the tenancy can be ended (by the landlord or tenant)
    • Landlord repair and safety obligations.

Government guidance for landlords and letting agents (external link) sets out the full information that must be provided.

  • The current gas safety certificate, dated within the last 12 months
  • The energy performance certificate, which includes the energy performance rating of the property. This rating must be an E or above, unless a valid exemption applies
  • A report that shows the condition of the property’s electrical installations, dated within the last 5 years
  • Evidence that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the property are in working order
  • Deposit paperwork - if you have provided a deposit, this must be registered with a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days, and prescribed information provided to you.

Key things to remember

  • Upfront rental payments - only when a tenancy agreement has been signed can a landlord or agent ask you for a payment of rent. If you are paying your rent monthly, the first month’s rent can be requested at any time during the ‘pre-tenancy’ period i.e. the time between the agreement being signed and the start date of the tenancy. See what fees can tenants be charged for further information on the fees that can be charged at the start of a tenancy
  • You cannot be charged a higher rent than the rent advertised for the property, even if you choose to offer this. If you have been charged a higher rent than the property advert, or the price of rent was not included in the property advert, you can report this to the Council using our Report an issue with a private rented tenancy form.
  • Keep any tenancy paperwork in a safe place where it can easily be located, such as your written terms/tenancy agreement, landlord name and contact details, deposit protection information, and property inventory.

Further advice