What to Do If You Lose Your Tenancy Agreement?

Misplacing your tenancy agreement is more common than you’d think, and in most cases it’s straightforward to resolve. Here’s what to do.

At a glance

• Contact your landlord or letting agent first. They’re usually required to keep a copy on file.
• Check your email archives from when you first moved in. Most agreements are sent digitally.
• Even without the document, you still have legal rights as a tenant under UK law.
• If a replacement is needed, make sure it includes all the essential terms before you sign.

Step 1: Contact your landlord or letting agent

Your landlord or letting agent should hold a copy of your tenancy agreement and can provide one on request. Send them an email explaining that you no longer have your copy and ask them to resend it. Email is preferable to a phone call as it creates a record of the request.

If you’re renting through a letting agency, they’ll typically have the agreement on file as part of your tenancy record. If it’s a privately managed property, contact your landlord directly.

Step 2: Search your own records

Before chasing anyone else, do a thorough search of your own files.

• Check your email inbox and sent folder for the period when you first moved in or signed the agreement. Most tenancy agreements are sent digitally, so searching for your landlord’s name or the property address should bring it up.
• Check cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud if you back up documents there.
• Look through any physical filing you have at home. Tenancy agreements are often filed away and forgotten after signing.

Step 3: Know your rights without the document

Losing your tenancy agreement doesn’t remove your legal rights as a tenant. If your tenancy began after 28 February 1997, it’s most likely an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), which gives you statutory protections including notice period requirements, regardless of whether you have a physical copy of the agreement.

You can also check the status of your deposit through the government-approved protection scheme where it should be registered. The three approved schemes are the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), and MyDeposits. These schemes hold basic details of your tenancy as part of the registration, which can help verify the terms.

Step 4: Get a replacement document

If your landlord or agent can’t locate the original, ask them to provide a replacement. This should be a written document rather than a verbal agreement. Make sure it includes:

• Your full name and your landlord’s full name
• The address of the rental property
• The agreed rent and payment schedule
• The tenancy start date and, if applicable, the end date
• Any other key terms from your original agreement

Review it carefully before signing and check it against anything you remember from the original. If there are any terms you’re unsure about or that seem different from what you originally agreed, seek advice from Citizens Advice before signing.

Before we go

Losing your tenancy agreement is manageable. Start with your landlord or letting agent, check your email and digital storage, and remember that your legal rights as a tenant aren’t dependent on having a physical copy of the document. If a replacement is needed, make sure it accurately reflects what you originally agreed before you sign.

And if you’re thinking about protecting your belongings in your rented home, Lemonade’s contents insurance covers your possessions against theft and damage from day one.

Losing your tenancy agreement FAQs