Renters’ Rights Act information sheet: 31st May landlord deadline

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is a new requirement that many private landlords in England need to deal with now.

In many cases, landlords must give existing tenants the official information sheet by 31st May 2026. If they do not, they could face a civil penalty of up to £7,000.

This is easy to miss and even easier to get wrong. You need to give tenants the correct document in the correct way. Simply sending them a link to it online is not enough.

What is the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet?

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is an official government document for tenants.

It explains how the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 affects their tenancy. The changes include new rules on tenancy types, fixed terms, Section 21 notices, rent increases, pets and possession grounds.

The information sheet matters because the new rules took effect from 1st May 2026. In most cases, existing assured shorthold tenancies automatically became assured periodic tenancies on that date. New private tenancies agreed on or after 1st May 2026 are also assured periodic tenancies.

Haven’t assured shorthold tenancies been abolished?

Yes. Assured shorthold tenancies were abolished from 1st May 2026.

However, the information sheet requirement applies to tenancies created before that date. That is why the official guidance still refers to assured shorthold tenancies when explaining which existing tenancies are covered.

Put simply, if your tenant had an assured shorthold tenancy before 1st May 2026, and there is a written tenancy agreement or other written record of terms, you should check whether you need to give them the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet now. If there is no written tenancy agreement, different rules apply – see below.

Who needs to give tenants the information sheet?

You must provide the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet if the tenancy:

• Was created before 1st May 2026;
• Falls within the assured tenancy regime, including tenancies that were assured shorthold tenancies before 1st May 2026; and
• Has a wholly or partly written record of terms, including a written tenancy agreement.

A copy must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement. You do not need to give it to lodgers.

If a letting agent manages the property for you, the agent must provide the information sheet to the tenant. This applies even if you have also provided it yourself.

What is the deadline?

The deadline is 31st May 2026.

Landlords who fail to give the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet by that date could be fined up to £7,000.

Government civil penalties guidance also gives a national starting point of £4,000 for failing to provide an existing tenant with prescribed information about the changes made by the Renters’ Rights Act. The actual penalty may be adjusted by the local authority, depending on the facts of the case.

This means landlords should act quickly, especially if they own more than one rental property or use different letting agents for different properties.

How should landlords give the information sheet to tenants?

You must give tenants the exact PDF (or a hard copy of it) from the official government page.

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is only valid when downloaded from that page. It must not be changed, reworded or copied into another document.

You can provide it by:

• printing a hard copy and giving it to the tenant by hand;
• posting a hard copy to the tenant; or
• sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example by email or text message.

However, you must not simply email or text a link to the PDF. That will not be valid.

It is also sensible to keep evidence. For example, save the email, keep a copy of the attachment, retain proof of postage, or keep a note of when the document was hand-delivered.

What if there is no written tenancy agreement?

Different rules apply if the tenancy is entirely verbal.

If the tenancy started before 1st May 2026 and there is no written tenancy agreement, or any other written record of the tenancy terms, you cannot use the information sheet. Instead, you must provide written information about the key terms of the tenancy by 31st May 2026.

This could apply where an arrangement has carried on informally for years without a proper written agreement. If that sounds familiar, take advice rather than assuming the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet alone will be enough.

Do landlords need to reissue tenancy agreements?

Not usually.

The legislation does not require landlords to change or reissue existing written tenancy agreements.

However, it is still worth reviewing your paperwork. Some clauses may no longer work in the same way after 1st May 2026. For example, the new rules affect fixed terms, rent review clauses and possession rights.

What else changed from 1st May 2026?

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is only one part of the wider changes that took effect on 1st May 2026.

From that date, most existing assured shorthold tenancies automatically became assured periodic tenancies. It is no longer possible to have an assured tenancy agreement with an end date, so most private tenancies are now rolling tenancies.

Section 21 “no fault” evictions have also ended for private rentals in England. Landlords now need a valid legal reason, known as a possession ground, if they want to recover a property.

Rent increases have changed too. In general, landlords can only increase rent once a year, must use the correct form, and must give at least two months’ notice. Tenants can challenge a proposed increase if it is above market rent.

Tenants also have the right to ask to keep a pet. Landlords must consider the request and must give a reason if they refuse.

A separate point for student landlords

Student landlords should take particular care.

If you rent to full-time students and want to use possession ground 4A at the end of the academic year, you may need to give tenants written notice that you may use that ground. In many cases, student landlords of tenancies created before 1st May 2026 have until 31st May 2026 to give that notice.

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet does not replace this separate notice.

This means some student landlords may need to deal with two tasks: giving the information sheet and giving the relevant ground 4A notice.

What should landlords do now?

If you are a private landlord in England, you need to check your tenancies now.

It’s a good idea to start with these steps:

• Identify tenancies created before 1st May 2026
• Check whether each tenancy has a written agreement or other written record of terms
• Download the official Renters’ Rights Act information sheet from the government website
• Give the exact PDF to every named tenant by 31st May 2026
• Send it as an attachment or provide a hard copy
• Keep evidence that you have done so
• Check that your letting agent has also complied, where relevant.

The Renters’ Rights Act may also affect rent reviews, cash flow, student lets and longer-term plans for your property portfolio. This is a good time to review your wider rental property position.

Need help with your rental property tax position?

The Renters’ Rights Act is a legal and property management matter. You may need advice from a letting agent or property solicitor to make sure you comply with the new rules.

However, THP can help with the tax and accounting side of your rental property. We can support you with annual accounts, Self Assessment tax returns, tax planning and Making Tax Digital preparation.

If you own a rental property and want to understand your tax position, please get in touch with our team.

FAQs

What is the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet deadline?

In many cases, private landlords in England must give existing tenants the official Renters’ Rights Act information sheet by 31st May 2026.

Do I still need to provide the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet  if assured shorthold tenancies have been abolished?

Yes, it’s likely that you should. Assured shorthold tenancies were abolished from 1st May 2026, but the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet requirement applies to certain tenancies created before that date.

Can I send my tenant a link to the information sheet?

No. You must provide the exact PDF as a hard copy or as an electronic attachment. Sending a link to the PDF is not valid.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

You could face a civil penalty of up to £7,000. Government civil penalties guidance gives a national starting point of £4,000 for failing to provide an existing tenant with mandated information about the Renters’ Rights Act changes.

Do I need to give the information sheet to lodgers?

No. The official guidance says landlords do not need to give the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet to lodgers.

What if I have a letting agent?

If a letting agent manages the property for you, the agent must provide the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet to the tenant. This applies even if you have already provided it yourself.