Renters' Rights Act 2025: The Government Information Sheet Explained

The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 — what landlords must do by 31 May

The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. If you have existing tenants whose tenancy started before that date and has a written (or partly written) record of terms, the deadline to serve them with the Government's official Information Sheet was 31 May 2026 — the duty is ongoing, so serve it now if you have not already. The penalty for non-compliance is a civil penalty of up to £7,000 (section 16I of the Housing Act 1988).

This guide covers exactly who needs the Information Sheet, who doesn't, and how to serve it correctly. For the full set of post-1-May deadlines, see our landlord compliance checklist.

Who must receive the Information Sheet

You must serve the Information Sheet on every named tenant of an assured or assured shorthold tenancy that:

1. 1Started before 1 May 2026, AND
2. 2Has a written tenancy agreement (or one that is partly written)

That covers the majority of existing private tenancies in England.

Who does NOT receive the Information Sheet

The Information Sheet does NOT apply to:

• New tenancies entered into on or after 1 May 2026. These tenancies receive a Written Statement of Terms instead, before the tenancy is signed.
• Existing tenancies that are wholly verbal (no written agreement). These receive a Written Statement of Terms by 31 May 2026, not the Information Sheet.
• Guarantors and permitted occupiers. Only named tenants receive the document.
• High-rent tenancies (annual rent above £100,000), lodger agreements, company lets, or Rent Act 1977 regulated tenancies.

If you've already issued a fresh tenancy agreement to an existing tenant on or after 1 May, that tenancy now contains the Written Statement of Terms — you don't also need to serve the Information Sheet.

What the Information Sheet contains

The Information Sheet is a four-page Government-produced PDF that summarises the key changes brought in by the Renters' Rights Act, including:

• Abolition of fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies and their automatic conversion to assured periodic tenancies
• Abolition of Section 21 evictions
• The new rent increase process (Section 13 notice + Form 4A only)
• The end of contractual rent review clauses
• The new pet request rules

You cannot annotate, edit, or summarise the Information Sheet. You must serve the original Government PDF as published.

How to serve the Information Sheet correctly

You can serve the Information Sheet by:

• Email with the PDF attached (not as a link)
• Hard copy by hand, by post, or left at the property
• Text message with the PDF attached (not as a link)

You cannot serve it by sending a link to a webpage where the document can be downloaded — the actual PDF must reach the tenant. If you use a letting agent, the agent must serve it (and you should keep evidence of service).

What happens if you miss the deadline

Local authorities can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for failing to provide the Information Sheet on time. The £40,000 maximum applies to separate offences under the Act, not to a missed Information Sheet.

The Information Sheet duty is on the landlord — using a letting agent does not transfer the legal obligation. Make sure you have written evidence (delivery receipt, email confirmation, signed acknowledgement) that every named tenant received the document on or before 31 May 2026.

Action checklist

1. 1List every tenancy that started before 1 May 2026 with a written or partly-written agreement
2. 2Identify every named tenant on each (not guarantors, not permitted occupiers)
3. 3Download the official Information Sheet PDF from gov.uk
4. 4Serve the PDF to every named tenant by 31 May 2026 — email attachment, hard copy, or text attachment
5. 5Keep written evidence of service for every tenant

Need help tracking who's been served and when?

Free members on RentersRightsAct.info can check a quick compliance diagnostic. Members with full access get the full document generators. Register free →

*This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify requirements with current Gov.uk guidance and consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.*