The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet —
What Every Landlord Must Know

What Is the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet?

In March 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published an official Information Sheet explaining the Renters' Rights Act 2025 to tenants. The sheet summarises the key changes introduced by the Act — which came into force on 1 May 2026 — in plain English.

Under Section 14 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords with existing assured or assured shorthold tenancies were required to provide this sheet to every named tenant by 31 May 2026. For new tenancies created after 1 May 2026, the sheet must be provided before the tenancy begins.

Who Must Receive the Information Sheet

The sheet must be served on every adult named as a tenant on an assured or assured shorthold tenancy. For joint tenancies, this means every named tenant must receive their own individual copy — serving the lead tenant and asking them to pass it on is not sufficient to comply with the requirement.

The following do not need to receive the sheet:

• Lodgers — people sharing accommodation with the landlord
• Tenants with high-rent tenancies above the assured tenancy threshold
• Company tenants
• Tenants with verbal agreements only (see below)

How to Serve It Correctly

The requirement specifies that the Information Sheet must be provided as an unaltered PDF. This means:

• You cannot summarise it, edit it, or provide a link to it online
• The complete PDF must be attached to an email or printed and handed to the tenant
• Any alterations to the document — even to add your own branding or contact details — would mean it no longer constitutes the prescribed document

Download the sheet from gov.uk, attach it to an email to each named tenant, and keep the sent email as evidence of service. For the strongest evidence trail, request a read receipt or ask the tenant to reply confirming receipt.

The 31 May 2026 Deadline

For tenancies that existed before 1 May 2026, the deadline for serving the sheet was 31 May 2026. This gave landlords 31 days from the Act's commencement to identify all their qualifying tenancies and serve the document.

If you missed this deadline, you remain in breach. Local authorities can investigate and issue penalty notices at any point. Acting now to serve the sheet — while late — demonstrates good faith and may be taken into account in any enforcement action, though it does not eliminate the original breach.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Local housing authorities are responsible for enforcement. The penalty regime is:

• First offence: Civil penalty of up to £7,000
• Continuing offence (more than 28 days after receiving a first penalty): further civil penalties up to £40,000

The penalty is per offence — meaning if you have multiple tenancies and fail to serve the sheet on each one, each tenancy is a separate offence. A landlord with five properties who failed to serve on any tenants could face up to £35,000 in penalties for first offences alone.

Letting Agent Responsibilities

Where a property is managed by a letting agent, the agent is also under a legal duty to serve the Information Sheet on tenants, even if the landlord has already done so. This dual obligation means landlords who use agents should confirm with their agent that service has taken place — and retain that confirmation — rather than assuming the agent has handled it.

Verbal Tenancy Agreements

Where a tenancy is based entirely on an oral agreement between landlord and tenant, the Information Sheet should not be served. Instead, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement of the key terms of the tenancy — rent amount, landlord name and address, repair responsibilities, and deposit details. This written statement requirement also arose from the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and had its own 31 May 2026 deadline for existing verbal tenancies.

What the Sheet Explains to Tenants

The Information Sheet covers the following key changes from the tenant's perspective:

• The end of fixed-term tenancies — all tenancies are now periodic (rolling)
• The abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions
• The new rules for rent increases — limited to once per year via a Section 13 notice, with a two-month notice period
• The right to keep a pet — landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a pet request
• The Decent Homes Standard applying to private rented properties
• Written tenancy terms — tenants are entitled to have the key terms in writing
• The new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and PRS Database

Understanding what the sheet tells your tenants is useful for landlords. It sets out the framework within which all tenancies now operate — and knowing what your tenants have been told about their rights helps you manage expectations and remain compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to serve the Information Sheet on new tenants after 1 May 2026?

Yes. For new tenancies created after 1 May 2026, the Information Sheet must be provided before the tenancy begins — alongside the other required documents such as the gas safety certificate, EICR, and How to Rent guide.

Is the Information Sheet the same as the How to Rent guide?

No. They are two separate documents with separate service requirements. The How to Rent guide explains tenants' rights and responsibilities during a tenancy generally. The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet specifically explains the changes introduced by the 2025 Act. Both must be served.

What if my tenant has already moved out before the deadline?

You do not need to serve the Information Sheet on former tenants. The obligation applies only to tenants with current tenancies on the date of service.