TL;DR: Scrib🐮's M2 Guided Preparation wizard walks landlords through every step of creating an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreement — covering deposit protection obligations, prescribed information, and the How to Rent checklist.
Creating an AST that is legally compliant in England requires far more than drafting the lease document. The Housing Act 1988 and subsequent regulations impose a set of pre-tenancy obligations on landlords: providing the How to Rent guide (updated regularly by MHCLG: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent), protecting the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, serving the prescribed information relating to that scheme, providing gas safety and energy performance certificates, and (for newer properties) a carbon monoxide alarm statement.
Landlords who fail to comply with these obligations cannot use the Section 21 accelerated possession procedure to end a tenancy. The Courts have refused Section 21 claims where the prescribed information was not properly served — even if the tenancy itself was perfectly drafted.
The challenge is that these obligations span multiple regulatory frameworks, and many landlords — particularly first-time or accidental landlords — are unaware of all of them.
Scrib🐮's M2 wizard for UK ASTs addresses not just the tenancy agreement itself, but the complete compliance framework surrounding it.
Phase 1 — Property and parties:
Enter the property address, landlord's name and contact address (required for service of notices), and tenant names. The guide explains why the landlord's address must be in England or Wales for the purposes of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 s48 notice requirement.
Phase 2 — Tenancy type and term:
Choose between a fixed-term AST (typically 6 or 12 months) or a periodic AST (rolling monthly or weekly). The wizard explains the implications of each: fixed-term ASTs give the tenant security for the term; periodic tenancies can be ended with appropriate notice. Since the Renters' Reform Bill is progressing through Parliament (as of 2026), the wizard notes any pending changes to AST law and their expected implementation date.
Phase 3 — Rent and deposit:
Enter the monthly rent and deposit amount (maximum 5 weeks' rent for annual rents below £50,000). The wizard explains the Tenant Fees Act 2019 cap on deposits and the prohibited fees list (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-act-2019-guidance).
Phase 4 — Deposit protection compliance:
The wizard generates a deposit protection checklist: which of the three government-approved schemes to use (Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits, or Tenancy Deposit Scheme), the 30-day protection deadline from receipt of deposit, and the prescribed information that must be served on the tenant. The wizard generates a template prescribed information document incorporating the scheme details once you have registered the deposit.
Phase 5 — Pre-tenancy compliance checklist:
The wizard generates a personalised compliance checklist covering:
Phase 6 — Generate AST:
The wizard generates the complete AST agreement covering all standard provisions: rent, deposit, permitted use, repair obligations, subletting restrictions, access for inspections, and notice requirements. The agreement includes a How to Rent receipt (tenant signs to confirm receipt of the guide) and a property condition report template.
Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service. For advice on landlord compliance obligations in your specific situation, consult a property solicitor or the NRLA (National Residential Landlords Association: https://www.nrla.org.uk/).
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Try it free →| Module | What It Does |
|---|---|
| M1 Templates | Smart document templates for all 3 menus |
| M2 Guided Prep | TurboTax-style step-by-step wizard |
| M3 AI Assistant | Instant answers to document questions |
| M4 Submission Guide | Filing instructions for each country |
| M5 Dashboard | Track documents, deadlines, status |
Pricing: From $149/month — all menus, all countries, unlimited documents.
DIY risk: The most dangerous UK landlord DIY mistake is protecting the deposit correctly but serving the prescribed information incorrectly — invalidating the Section 21 procedure for the entire tenancy. A second common mistake is providing an outdated version of the How to Rent guide; landlords must serve the current version at the start of each tenancy and whenever MHCLG updates it.
Letting agent: UK letting agents typically charge 8–15% of rent for full management or a one-off tenant find fee of £300–£800. They handle compliance obligations — but their standard AST may not include all optional clauses appropriate for your property.
Scrib🐮: The M2 wizard ensures your compliance checklist is complete, generates all required documentation, and produces an AST covering both the mandatory legal requirements and the optional provisions most UK landlords need.
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MmowW Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service, not a law firm.
Q: Does the wizard cover the Renters' Reform Bill changes?
Yes. The wizard notes relevant pending legislation and its expected implementation timeline. Given that the Renters' Reform Bill would abolish fixed-term ASTs and Section 21 notices, the guide explains how to structure tenancies to maintain appropriate notice provisions under a periodic tenancy framework once the legislation takes effect. For the latest status of the Bill, see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-fairer-private-rented-sector.
Q: Which deposit protection scheme should I use?
All three government-approved schemes (DPS, MyDeposits, Tenancy Deposit Scheme) meet the legal requirement. The differences are in their insurance-backed vs custodial models and processing times. The wizard explains the practical differences; the choice does not affect legal compliance.
Q: Does Scrib🐮 generate the prescribed information document?
Yes. The wizard generates a template prescribed information document. You add the scheme reference number after registering the deposit with your chosen scheme, then serve the completed prescribed information on the tenant (and any relevant person) within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
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Start 14-Day Free Trial →No credit card required. From $149/month.
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