How to set up a tenancy
Contents
The Renters' Rights Act
Important note: The Renters' Rights Act became law in England on 27 October 2025. Much of it will come into force on 1 May 2026.
The information in this guide reflects the current pre-1 May legal position.
In the meantime, see our article on the Renters' Rights Act for a summary of the pending changes.
In this section
This section covers what you need to do to set up the tenancy:
- Finding and managing tenants (and conducting necessary checks)
- Registering the tenancy deposit
- Giving the tenant all the required documents, including (not an exhaustive list):
- Information about the tenancy deposit scheme you're using
- Inventory of furnishings and fittings (if required)
- Rent book (if required)
- Energy Performance Certificate
- Gas safety certificate (if applicable)
To help you decide the type of tenancy that suits your needs, see Tenancy and lodger agreements.
For what to include in a tenancy agreement, see What's in a tenancy agreement?.