Tenancy Agreement

Tenancy Agreement: Create a Verified Agreement for Your Country (2026)

A verified tenancy agreement is the written contract between a landlord and a tenant who rents a home. It records who is renting which property, the rent and deposit, who looks after repairs and bills, and how the tenancy can end. Robot Lawyer drafts your agreement from your answers for the country, state or region where the property is, using that place's own terminology. On the Verified plan, a legal professional then checks it.

Housing law is local: the type of agreement, deposit limits, notice periods and rent increase rules all depend on where the property is. Tell us the property's location and your agreement will follow the rules that apply there.

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What Is a Tenancy Agreement?

A tenancy agreement, also called a lease, rental agreement or residential lease, gives a tenant the right to live in a property in return for rent. It sets out the deal both sides have made and the rules they will follow while the tenancy lasts.

A clear written agreement protects both sides. It gives you a record of what was agreed if anything is disputed later, and in many places the law requires landlords to give tenants certain information in writing.

When Do You Need a Tenancy Agreement?

You need a tenancy agreement whenever you let a self-contained home, or a room in a shared house where you don't live, to a tenant in return for rent. Common situations include:

• Letting a property for the first time
  Put the terms in writing before the tenant moves in or pays anything.
• A new tenant moving in
  Use a fresh agreement for each new tenancy rather than reusing an old one.
• Bringing an old agreement up to date
  Laws on deposits, rent increases and notice change, so old templates can quickly become wrong.
• Letting abroad or from abroad
  If you own a property in another country, the agreement should follow that country's housing law, not the law of where you live.

If you live in the property and rent a room to someone, that person is usually a lodger rather than a tenant. Use our Lodger's Agreement or Room Rental Agreement instead.

Key Rules to Check Wherever You Let

Most countries regulate the same core points of a residential tenancy, even though the detail differs. Your agreement covers each of them for the property's location:

• Type and length of tenancy
  Whether the tenancy can be for a fixed term, or must roll on from one rent period to the next.
• Deposits
  Many places cap the deposit and require it to be held in, or registered with, an official scheme or authority.
• Rent and rent increases
  How often rent can be increased, how much notice is needed and whether local rent controls apply.
• Repairs and safety
  The landlord's duties to keep the home safe and in repair, and any safety checks or certificates required.
• Ending the tenancy
  The notice each side must give and, for landlords, the legal grounds and court or tribunal process needed to recover possession.
• Information for tenants
  Notices, forms or written terms the landlord must give the tenant before or at the start of the tenancy.

How It Works in Different Countries

The name of the document, and the rules it must follow, depend on where the property is. Robot Lawyer asks for the property's country and, where it matters, its state, region or province, then drafts the matching type of agreement. A few examples:

• UK
  Each nation has its own system. In England, private lets are assured periodic tenancies under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, and a landlord can only seek possession on a legal ground using a Section 8 Notice. Wales uses occupation contracts (see our Occupation Contract), Scotland uses private residential tenancies and Northern Ireland uses private tenancies.
• United States
  Residential leases are governed by state law, and some cities add their own rules, such as rent stabilisation. Deposit limits and return deadlines vary by state, and federal law requires a lead paint disclosure for most homes built before 1978.
• Ireland
  Landlords must register tenancies with the Residential Tenancies Board. Deposits and rent in advance are generally limited, and rent increases may be restricted in some areas.
• Canada
  Residential tenancies are governed by each province or territory. Some require a standard form, such as Ontario's standard lease and Québec's mandatory lease form.
• Australia
  Each state and territory has its own residential tenancies law. Bonds are usually lodged with a state authority, and some states prescribe a standard form of agreement.
• Other countries
  A residential lease or rental agreement built from your answers, using the title commonly used there, with a clear placeholder for any local rule you need to confirm.

Housing law is local and it changes. These notes are general, so check the current rules where the property is, and have the finished agreement checked by a local lawyer if you are unsure.

What's Included in Your Tenancy Agreement?

Every agreement is built from your answers. Depending on where the property is and what you choose, it can include:

• The parties
  The landlord, every tenant and an address where notices can be served on the landlord.
• The property
  The full address, the type of property and anything included, such as parking or furniture.
• Start date and length
  When the tenancy starts and, where local law allows, whether it is for a fixed term or rolling.
• Rent
  The amount, how often it is paid and how.
• Deposit
  The amount and how it is protected, where local law requires deposit protection.
• Bills and repairs
  Who pays which utilities and who is responsible for which repairs.
• Pets, smoking and occupiers
  The rules you choose, within what local law allows.
• Subletting and alterations
  Whether the tenant can sublet, take in lodgers or make changes to the property.
• Inventory and inspections
  Whether a check-in and check-out condition report will be completed. You can use our Rental Inspection Report.
• Ending the tenancy
  How each side can end the agreement under the local rules.
• Your extra clauses
  Any other terms you want, unless they would be unlawful where the property is.
• Standard or Comprehensive
  A Standard agreement gives every required clause in full. A Comprehensive agreement adds fuller clauses on keys and security, rubbish and recycling, gardens, contents insurance, inventory, and cleaning and handover at the end.

If something we need is missing from your answers, we won't guess. Your agreement will show a clear placeholder, such as [LANDLORD FULL NAME], for you to complete.

How It Works on Robot Lawyer

1. Answer the questions
   Tell us where the property is, who the landlord and tenants are, the rent, the deposit and the rules you want.
2. Generate your agreement
   We draft a tenancy agreement for the property's location, in the right form and with the clauses your answers call for.
3. Get it verified
   On the Verified plan, a qualified legal professional checks the finished agreement within 24 hours and makes amendments where needed. Read how our documents are verified.
4. Sign and share
   Both parties sign, and each keeps a copy.

You can start with a 7-day free trial. See our pricing for the plans.

Tenancy Agreement FAQs

Can I create a tenancy agreement for a property in any country?

Yes. Choose the country (and the state, region or province) where the property is. We draft a residential lease or rental agreement from your answers, using local terminology where we can, and use placeholders for any local rule you should confirm before signing.

What is the difference between a tenancy agreement and a lease?

In everyday use they mean the same thing: a contract letting a home for rent. "Tenancy agreement" is the usual term in the UK, while "lease" or "rental agreement" is more common in the US, Canada and Australia. Your document uses the term that fits the property's location.

What type of tenancy agreement do I need?

It depends on where the property is. Many places use a standard residential lease, while others have a specific statutory type, such as the assured periodic tenancy in England or the private residential tenancy in Scotland. Tell us the property's location and we use the right type.

Can a tenancy agreement be for a fixed term?

In many places, yes, for example a 12-month lease. Some places limit or don't allow fixed terms for private lets. In England, for example, private tenancies now roll on from month to month. If the property is somewhere that allows a fixed term and you choose one, your agreement will reflect it.

How can a landlord end a tenancy?

Only by following the local rules. That usually means giving written notice in the required form, often relying on a legal ground such as rent arrears, and getting a court or tribunal order if the tenant doesn't leave. Changing the locks or removing a tenant without an order is unlawful in most places. In England, landlords use a Section 8 Notice.

Does a tenancy agreement need to be witnessed?

In most places a residential tenancy agreement just needs to be signed by the landlord and every tenant. Some longer leases, and some countries, have extra signing formalities, so your document follows the signing rules for the property's location where they are known.

Is a Robot Lawyer tenancy agreement legally binding?

Once signed by both parties, a tenancy agreement is normally a binding contract. Housing law differs from place to place and changes often, so we recommend the Verified plan, and a local lawyer's check for properties outside England and Wales, shared houses, company lets or high-value properties.

Will my agreement include terms I didn't ask for?

It includes the terms you choose plus the terms the law where the property is expects to see. Where an answer is missing, you'll see a placeholder rather than an invented detail.

Create a Verified Tenancy Agreement Online

Answer a few simple questions and download a tenancy agreement for your property's location, ready to review and sign. Related documents: Lease Agreement, Holding Deposit Form, Rent Receipt and Lease Guarantee.