Tenancy Agreement Compliance Check — May 2026*

Tenancy Agreement Compliance — May 2026

✓ PIMS Renters’ Rights Compliant

From 1 May 2026, tenancy agreement compliance is not optional. The Renters’ Rights framework imposes mandatory rules, and a landlord cannot contract out of those rules by agreement with the tenant. This page helps landlords ask the key question: does the agreement protect you, or expose you?

Create Your PIMS Tenancy Agreement

The PIMS Tenancy Wizard asks the right questions and generates the tenancy agreement using the correct Renters’ Rights structure and clauses.

Create Your PIMS Tenancy Agreement

✓ PIMS Agreement Compliance Points

These are the agreement issues landlords should not leave to chance. The PIMS Tenancy Wizard is designed to include or prompt these points.

✓ No old fixed-term AST structure

The agreement avoids false fixed-term protection and old AST assumptions. Critical

✓ No reliance on Section 21 wording

The agreement avoids old no-fault possession assumptions. Critical

✓ Assured periodic tenancy structure

Generated for England from 1 May 2026. Critical

✓ Mandatory rent increase wording

Aligned to the new rent increase process. Critical

✓ Rent, bills, utilities and council tax

Responsibilities are clearly defined so there is less room for dispute.

✓ Landlord, tenant and property details

Core party and property details are captured correctly.

✓ Pets clause

Included and controlled under the Renters’ Rights rules.

✓ Children and household occupation wording

Occupation wording is controlled properly.

✓ Fitness for habitation and repairs

Repair and habitability obligations are reflected.

✓ Licensing prompts

Property compliance prompts are included where relevant.

✓ Agent details and scheme information

Agent and redress / scheme information is prompted where an agent is involved.

✓ Gas safety and electrical safety

Safety disclosures are supported.

✓ Deposit cap and deposit terms

Deposit cap checked and deposit terms recorded.

✓ Prescribed information

Included as standard where a deposit is taken.

✓ Guarantor deed route

Guarantor route supported and witnessed where required.

✓ Signed by all tenants

The agreement should be generated and signed by all tenants before issue / occupation.

Generate the PIMS Agreement

✕ Your Agreement Must Not

These are exposure points in old or poorly updated agreements.

✕ Use an old fixed-term AST template

This may create false security.

✕ Rely on Section 21 wording

Old no-fault wording should not be relied upon.

✕ Use break clauses as a workaround

Break clauses should not be treated as a substitute for statutory grounds.

✕ Allow bidding above advertised rent

The agreement and letting process should not support rent bidding.

✕ Charge prohibited fees

Fees must remain within the permitted fees framework.

✕ Take more than the permitted deposit cap

Deposit wording must not exceed the permitted cap.

✕ Accept unlawful rent in advance

The agreement should not disguise or encourage restricted advance rent,

With the exception of the initial rent payment. The Landlord or Agent shall not thereafter require the Tenant to make any rent payment before the Rent Payment Day. The pre-Tenancy payment is permitted

✕ Refuse pets without proper written reasons

Pet requests must be handled under the statutory framework.

✕ Ignore licensing requirements

Licensable property risks must be controlled.

✕ Leave rent, bills or council tax unclear

Ambiguity can create expensive disputes.

✕ Leave guarantor obligations informal

The guarantee must be properly linked to the tenancy.

✕ Issue an agreement not signed by all tenants

All tenants should sign before issue / occupation.

Agreement exposure test

If your current agreement still contains old AST wording, fixed-term assumptions, Section 21 references, unclear rent terms or weak deposit wording, it may expose you to avoidable risk.

The PIMS Wizard is designed to remove those issues by generating a Renters’ Rights-ready agreement before the tenant signs.

Replace Risky Wording

Final check before issuing the tenancy agreement

Before issuing the tenancy agreement, make sure the tenant has been checked properly. A compliant agreement protects the landlord’s legal position, but the wrong tenant can still create arrears, disputes and possession problems.

Join PIMS to Access Tenant Credit Checks

PIMS final rule:

Do not ask whether the old agreement “mostly works”. Ask whether it contains the mandatory Renters’ Rights structure, excludes prohibited wording, and protects the landlord before the tenant signs.

Clause updates

We have enhanced - The initial rent payment for the first rental period is permitted and required before the Tenancy Start Date (such permitted payment not exceeding 28 days’ rent where rent is payable weekly or one month’s rent where rent is payable monthly)

The previous clause OK just tightened further. to re affirm the limits 28 days and one month

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Critical Agreement Compliance Points

✓ PIMS Renters’ Rights Compliant

These member guidance notes explain the key tenancy agreement risks in more detail. They are focused on whether the agreement protects the landlord before the tenant signs.

Use the PIMS Tenancy Wizard

The PIMS Tenancy Wizard asks the right questions and generates the tenancy agreement using the correct Renters’ Rights structure and clauses.

Create Your PIMS Tenancy Agreement

1. Do not use old fixed-term thinking

From 1 May 2026, the agreement must work within the assured periodic tenancy structure. Old fixed-term AST wording can create false security and may fail when the landlord needs the agreement most.

2. Do not accept rent before the agreement is signed

The agreement should be signed and issued before rent arrangements are relied upon. Taking rent too early can create evidence and compliance problems-

3. Do not accept more than one month’s rent in advancE - only permitted if council prevention of homelessness incentive

The agreement should not permit rent structures that conflict with the new restrictions. Landlords should not use wording that disguises advance rent or places the tenancy outside the permitted framework.

4. Name every landlord correctly

The agreement should correctly identify all landlords and all tenants. Incorrect party details can create avoidable disputes and may affect notices, service and later enforcement.

5. Define rent, bills, utilities and council tax clearly

The agreement should make clear what the tenant pays and what, if anything, is included in the rent. Ambiguity over utilities, council tax, services or other charges can become expensive.

6. Protect the deposit and serve prescribed information

Where a deposit is taken, the agreement must work with the deposit cap, the deposit scheme and the prescribed information process. Deposit protection alone is not enough.

7. Get the guarantor process right

If a guarantor is used, the guarantee must be properly linked to the tenancy and completed before the tenancy is granted. Informal guarantor wording can be unenforceable when the landlord needs it most.

Final check before issuing the tenancy agreement

Before issuing the tenancy agreement, check that the tenant has been assessed and that the agreement is generated from the correct PIMS Renters’ Rights-ready wizard.

Create PIMS Agreement Access Tenant Credit Checks

PIMS final rule: