Commentary on Sections Part 3 - Provisions Applying to All Occupation Contracts Chapter 2 - Provision of Information Section 31 – Written statement
133.If this section is incorporated as a term of the contract without modification, the landlord is required to provide a written statement of the occupation contract to the contract-holder within 14 days of the date the contract-holder becomes entitled to occupy the dwelling. This requirement is intended to ensure that all parties know precisely what their rights and obligations are under the contract. The landlord cannot charge a fee to the contract-holder for providing this statement.
134.Where the identity of the contract-holder, or one of the contract-holders under a joint contract, has changed, the landlord must provide a copy of the written statement of the contract to the new contract-holder within 14 days of the identity of the contract-holder changing. Where a landlord was unaware that the identity of the contract-holder had changed, a written statement of the contract must be provided within 14 days of the landlord becoming aware (or, in the case of joint landlords, within 14 days of any one of the landlords becoming aware) of the change of identity. The landlord cannot charge a fee to the contract-holder for providing this statement.
135.If a contract-holder requires a further copy of the written statement, the landlord may charge a reasonable fee for providing that further copy. The further copy must be provided within 14 days of the request being made or, if the landlord charges a fee, within 14 days of the contract-holder paying the fee.