Landlords in England should be aware of an important new compliance requirement introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act. The reforms represent a significant change to the private rented sector and introduce new obligations designed to improve transparency and strengthen tenant protections.
One of the immediate requirements is the obligation to provide tenants with the government-issued Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. For qualifying tenancies, landlords and letting agents must provide a copy of the official document to all named tenants by 31 May 2026. The information can be delivered either in hard copy or electronically (for example by email with the PDF attached).
This requirement generally applies where:
- the tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy;
- the tenancy commenced before 1 May 2026; and
- there is a written or partly written record of the tenancy terms.
The Information Sheet explains how the legislative changes affect existing tenancy arrangements and outlines the updated rights and protections available to tenants under the new regime.
The wider reforms include the abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions and broader measures aimed at creating a more stable and transparent rental market. Existing written tenancy agreements generally do not need to be reissued immediately, as the legal changes apply automatically; however, landlords remain responsible for ensuring tenants receive the prescribed information within the required timeframe.
Failure to comply may lead to enforcement action and financial penalties of up to £7,000. Landlords should therefore review their tenancy administration procedures, update communication processes and maintain records demonstrating when and how the Information Sheet was issued to tenants. Early action will help minimise compliance risk and avoid unnecessary penalties.
