If you own a rental property, ensure you understand the new Renters’ Rights Act 2025 obligations coming into force at the end of this month.
As part of these updates, the government has issued a guidance document, the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, that must be given to your tenants by 31st May 2026. Missing this deadline could result in a fine of up to £7,000.
What is the Information Sheet?
The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 is a government-produced guidance document for tenants, explaining how their tenancy may be affected by the changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. You must give this information sheet to your tenants if:
- is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy
- was created before 1 May 2026
- has a wholly or partly written record of terms (including a written tenancy agreement)
The legislation does not require you to change or re-issue any existing written tenancy agreement. However, if your tenancy agreement was entirely verbal and made before 1 May 2026, then you cannot give this Information Sheet. You are required to provide certain written information about the key terms of the tenancy instead. You can find out more about this by searching GOV.UK for ‘Tenancy agreements: written information for your tenant’.
What Landlords Must Actually Do
Every named tenant on the tenancy (both assured and assured shorthold tenancy that began before 1st May 2026), that has written (or partly written) terms, must receive their own copy. It cannot be simply emailed as a link to a webpage; the requirements specify that it must be provided as a PDF. You can send it to your tenants by post, deliver it by hand, or email it as a PDF attachment. It is important to remember that emailing a link alone does not meet the legal requirements.
You do not need to rewrite or reissue your existing tenancy agreement. The Information Sheet is a separate document, and providing it does not change the terms of your lease.
Managing Agents and Self-managing Landlords
If you are using a managing agent or a rent collection service to manage your rental property, check with them directly. Many fully managed services will handle this for you and distribute the Information Sheet to tenants on your behalf before the deadline. However, do not assume they are doing this for you, check with them first. If you manage your own property, or use an agent that is not handling this, the responsibility falls on you.
The government has made it explicitly clear. You must give this Information Sheet by 31 May 2026, or you could be liable for a fine of up to £7,000.
How Our Property Lawyers Can Help
If you are unsure whether your tenancy qualifies, or you are unsure of your obligations under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and you want to ensure you are complying correctly, our property team can provide you with the relevant guidance. We have extensive experience helping people in Kingston upon Thames, London, and across the South East of England with landlord and tenant matters and issues associated with leasehold properties.
Please get in touch with our property team to discuss the best way forward for you. This is a complex area of the law and requires expert advice. Please contact a member of our team below or email info@roselegal.co.uk for a consultation to discuss the best way forward for you and we will provide you with further and specific advice tailored to your circumstances.
This blog post is not intended to be taken as advice or acted upon. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our team of solicitors.
