1954 Act assistant

Renewal guidance for tenants and landlords · general information only

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First, which side are you on?

Answer a question to get started

No legal jargon needed — pick whichever answer fits your situation.

Have you received a section 25 notice from your landlord?

Do you want to stay in the premises after your lease ends?

Is your landlord opposing a new lease?

Or just describe your situation in your own words below.

Section 26 request (tenant)

A section 26 request is how a tenant starts the renewal — you propose the date the new tenancy begins. Fill in what you know and the assistant will check the timing and draft it.

Your name / company (tenant)Landlord's nameAddress of the premisesCurrent lease expiry dateProposed start of new tenancyProposed term (years)Proposed rent (optional)

If you serve the request today, the new tenancy must begin between 28 February 2027 and 31 August 2027.

Draft request — edit freely

The template fills in from the fields above until you start editing. Square brackets mark anything still to complete.

Prescribed form warning. A section 26 request must be made in the form prescribed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part 2 (Notices) Regulations 2004 (or a form substantially to the same effect). This working document only helps you assemble the information — copy it into the current prescribed form before serving, and have it checked. The prescribed forms.

To: [Landlord's name]
From: [Your name / company]
Date: 31 August 2026

TENANT'S REQUEST FOR A NEW TENANCY UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT 1954
Premises: [Address of the premises]

1. I am the tenant of the premises under a lease which expires on [current lease expiry date]. The tenancy is one to which Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 applies.

2. I request a new tenancy of the premises beginning on [proposed start date].

3. My proposals for the new tenancy are:
   (a) Property to be comprised in the new tenancy: the whole of the premises described above.
   (b) Term: 10 years from the date the new tenancy begins.
   (c) Rent: [proposed rent], exclusive of rates, insurance and service charge.
   (d) Other terms: as in the current lease, save as varied above.

4. If you wish to oppose the grant of a new tenancy you must, within two months of the making of this request, give me notice in writing saying so and stating on which of the grounds in section 30(1) of the Act you will rely.

Signed: ..............................
[Your name / company]

What this says, in plain English

You ([Your name / company]) are asking [Landlord's name] for a brand new lease of [Address of the premises].
You are saying your present lease runs out on [current lease expiry date], and asking for the new one to start on [proposed start date].
You are proposing a lease of 10 years at [proposed rent], with everything else broadly as it is now.
You are not ending your lease by doing this — the current tenancy carries on until the date you have specified.
Your landlord then has two months to say whether they object, and must name their legal reason if they do.
If they object, you must apply to court before the start date you have specified, or you lose the right to renew.

There are still placeholders in square brackets — complete them before serving.

This is a template, not legal advice — have it checked before you serve it.

Need professional assistance with your lease?

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines under the 1954 Act are strict and a mis-served notice can cost you the renewal. If your matter is live, speak to a professional.

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