Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet 2026

On 1 May 2026, Phase One of the Renters’ Rights Act officially came into play. The new act has changed the expectations of landlords within the rental industry, including letting agents and tenants alike. 31 May 2026 is an extremely important date to remember, as this is the date you, as a landlord, would have needed to have provided the 2026 renters’ rights act information sheet to your tenants by. (Gov.UK pg 1-4)

If, for some reason, you don’t provide the sheet to your tenants on time, you could face financial penalties. So, in this guide, we’ll discuss the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet 2026 and how you can remain compliant as a landlord when providing it to your tenants. 

What is the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet?

The 2026 renters’ rights act information sheet was created and published to inform tenants of their new rights, highlighting certain updates, such as: 

• The abolition of fixed terms: Assured shorthold tenancy (AST) agreements will automatically turn into rolling tenancy agreements
• New eviction rules: Landlords will now refer to Section 8 notices instead of Section 21 notices. 
• Rent increase limits: This caps the rent increases to once per year via the Section 13 process. This will also render historic rent review clauses void. 
• New tenant rights: Tenants now have a statutory right to request a pet. There are also now heightened expectations around property standards and fitness for human habitation. (Gov.UK pg 1-4)

Who Needs to Receive the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet?

The most common point of confusion is determining which residents will actually need this document, which is directly linked to the historical setup of the tenancy. So, as a landlord, you’ll need to supply your tenants with the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet to your tenants who meet the following requirements: 

• They hold an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) or a standard Assured Tenancy.
• The tenancy agreement was entered into before 1 May 2026.
• There is a wholly or partly written record of the tenancy terms (such as a standard signed tenancy agreement or even a clear written exchange of terms via email).

Key Exemptions

It is important to note that you won’t need to issue the information sheet to lodgers who share a living space with a live-in landlord, including licensees. This applies to valid tenancies within the private rented sector. 

The Tenancy Shift from 1 May 2026 

The first thing to note is that there has been a restructuring of the way tenancies are being structured. From 1 May 2026, all traditional AST agreements will no longer be an option. (Gov.UK pg. 1-4)

The Periodic Conversion

All ASTs will now have been automatically converted to an Assured Periodic Tenancy. So, now all tenancies will be rolling, month-to-month agreements by default. The only exception to this is if a shorter rental cycle has been agreed upon in the original contract, for example, a weekly cycle. So, the tenancy will roll forward until the tenant gives notice, or you, as the landlord, enforce a valid, ground-based possession order. 

Do You Need to Rewrite Your Tenancy Agreements?

You may be thinking that you need to create new tenancy agreements for your tenants with the new changes; however, you’ll be relieved to know that this is not the case. You don’t even need to reissue your existing written tenancy agreement because the law now overrides the outdated clauses automatically. (Gov.UK)

The government introduced the Renters Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 so that you wouldn’t need to generate a large amount of paperwork. The information sheet was created to bridge that legal gap, so you can rest assured that it satisfies your statutory duty to inform your tenants of the change in law. 

When Can the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet Not Be Used? 

If, for some reason, you have a verbal agreement with your tenants that was established before 1 May 2026 regarding your rental property, you will not be able to use the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet. 

As a result of this, you will need to create and provide your tenants with a legally sound tenancy agreement that is easy to understand and that holds all the necessary information they need. This will also need to be completed by 31st May 2026. Here’s what you’ll need to include in the tenancy agreement: 

• The date the rent is due and the amount tenants owe 
• If applicable, how bills and separate payments will be split
• Tenancy deposit protection details that will need to be placed into an authorised deposit scheme (this needs to be done within 30 days). 
• A list of the specific safety certificates and declarations needed to prove the property is safe, including gas safety, EPC certificates, and EICR. 
• You also need to include a paragraph that states that any future rental increases will be off the back of the Section 13 framework.

Landlords need to take into consideration how they inform their tenants of the changes made by the act. There are specific expectations around how you will need to inform your tenants. There are certain things you will need to keep in mind when providing your tenants with the 2026 renters’ rights act information sheet. Let’s discuss this next. 

Don’t Send a Link

Only sending a link to the gov.uk landing page with the information sheet on it won’t suffice. You’ll need to either print out a physical hard copy and deliver it to your tenants by post or send them the file digitally as an unaltered PDF attachment via email. 

Letting Agents

If you use a letting agent to manage your property, you’ll still need to make sure that your tenants receive the information they need. Don’t assume that the letting agent will do this for you. Try to communicate with your letting agent to organise this. 

Missing Named Tenants

Next, you’ll need to make sure that you name the tenant when sending them the renters’ rights act information sheet 2026. You will need to ensure that a copy is delivered to every single named tenant who has been listed on the original tenancy agreement. 

Flawed Record Keeping

Make sure that you keep a robust audit trail when sending out the information sheet. If you decide to send the information sheet digitally, use software that tracks delivery and provides read receipts. If you decide to hand deliver, then try to use a signed acknowledgement slip. 

What Happens if You Don’t Send Out the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet On Time? 

The government will be using this activity as a benchmark test for landlord compliance under the new law. If landlords fail to provide their tenants with the 2026 Renters’ Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026, local authorities have the power to issue an initial penalty of up to £7,000. (Gov.UK)

If, for some reason, this has still not been done within 28 days of the initial penalty, it will become a continuing offence, which will result in landlords facing civil fines of as much as £40,000. As well as this, non-compliance can also restrict a landlord’s ability to rely on Section 8 possession grounds if they need to do so in the future. (Gov.UK)

By making sure that you remain compliant, you’re more likely to be able to protect your investment from fines and secure your legal rights as a landlord. You’ll also be able to establish a transparent relationship with your tenants. 

If you’re looking for landlord insurance to help protect your rental property, make sure you get in touch with our team of specialists for a quote today on 01788 818 670. Or you can visit our advice centre for more information on how to manage your rental property.