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. However, at the time of writing, it is not yet in force and the implementation date is unknown.
The information in this guide reflects the current legal position. We will update it with any changes arising from the new law as the timescales become known.
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?.