Signing a tenancy agreement

The landlord should prepare two copies of the tenancy agreement. The landlord, the tenant(s) and the guarantor (if there is one) should each sign both copies. One copy is to be retained by the tenant and the other by the landlord.

At the same time as the tenancy agreement is signed then copies of the inventory shoudl also be signed. The inventory is a list of all fixtures and fittings along with a detailed description of the condition. This is to resolve any possible disputes over whether the contents have all been returned at the end of the tenancy and whether any decline in condition is due to damage or wear-and-tear. As with the tenancy agreement, all parties shoudl sign 2 copies with one retained by the landlord and the other by the tenant

There is no legal requirement for a witness to also sign the agreement for tenancy agreements of less than 3 years.