Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026.
The official MHCLG explainer published for existing tenants alongside the Renters’ Rights Act commencement. Not a guide you write — it’s a Government PDF you point your tenants at — but two of its deadlines are landlord duties most people will miss.
One month after the Act starts. Easy to forget.
For any tenant without a written tenancy agreement (or any written record of the terms), you must give them certain written information on or before 31 May 2026. Verbal lets and handshake renewals are the typical traps.
To rely on Ground 4A (student possession at the end of the academic year), you must have given the tenant separate written notice that you may use Ground 4A — by 31 May 2026 in most cases. The Information Sheet itself does not count as that written notice. Miss this and you can’t evict on Ground 4A at the end of 2025/26.
What is the Information Sheet?
The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 is a four-page leaflet published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). It’s written for tenants — explaining how their existing tenancy changes from 1 May 2026 — and is the official plain-English summary of the new regime.
Crucially, it explicitly says: “This document is only a summary of the changes. The new rules may change or impact your tenancy in a way not described below. The new rules apply to your tenancy automatically, even if your landlord does not update your tenancy agreement.”
What it covers
- Notices served before 1 May 2026 — old rules can still apply
- Fixed-term tenancies become rolling (periodic) automatically
- Assured Shorthold Tenancies are renamed to Assured Periodic Tenancies
- Rent increases must use Section 13 with Form 4A; old rent-review clauses no longer apply
- Section 21 abolished; new Section 8 grounds with 12-month protected period for sale and family move-in
- Ending the tenancy as a tenant — minimum 2 months’ written notice, ending on a rent-due day
- Right to request a pet — landlord can’t unreasonably refuse
- Student possession via Ground 4A
Who must serve it?
There’s no explicit legal duty in the Act requiring landlords to hand the Information Sheet itself to every tenant — it’s guidance, not a prescribed form. But there is a duty to provide certain written tenancy information (rent, address, landlord contact, basic terms) by 31 May 2026 to anyone without a written agreement on file.
In practice, professional landlords and agents are sending the Information Sheet to every tenant alongside an updated written tenancy summary, because:
- It demonstrates you’ve communicated the changes in good faith
- It pre-empts disputes about whether the tenant understood the new regime
- It pairs naturally with the Section 13 / Form 4A rent-increase process
When to send it
Download the official PDF
See also: GOV.UK private renting guidance for landlords for the full set of forms (Form 4A, Section 8 templates, etc.).
We’ll remind you before 31 May 2026.
Both 31 May 2026 deadlines are one-shot — easy to miss in the first month of a new regulatory regime. Inside the dashboard, set a reminder per tenant for whichever applies (no written agreement, or student you might evict on Ground 4A) and we’ll nudge you at 90, 30, and 7 days before the deadline. Attach the email proof once you’ve served and the audit pack will include it.
- Per-tenant deadline tracking with 90/30/7-day reminders
- Attach the email or PDF you sent as proof of service
- Audit pack includes the served-on date and proof in one click
This page is plain-English commentary on a public GOV.UK document. It is not legal advice. Landlord Compliance helps you track the records you hold but cannot confirm legal compliance. Always download the latest version of the Information Sheet from GOV.UK before sending — and seek independent legal advice for borderline cases (especially Ground 4A and possession claims).