03 May 2026
With the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 having come into force on May 1, landlords should now be preparing for a number of new statutory obligations. A key immediate requirement is the service of the Government’s prescribed Information Sheet, which must be provided to certain tenants within a strict timeframe to avoid potential penalties.
What is the Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet?
The Government’s Information Sheet has now been published, see the prescribed guidance in the following link:
The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026
The Information Sheet is designed to provide existing assured tenants with a clear explanation of how their rights and tenancy structures have changed.
- The Information Sheet sets out:
- The transition from fixed-term tenancies to the new periodic tenancy system.
- The end of Section 21 nofault evictions, and the protections replacing it.
- Updated rent increase rules, possession grounds, and the strengthened rights of tenants to challenge unfair practices.
- Routes for obtaining support or making complaint.
It is in a prescribed form and it must not be altered.
Who Must Receive the Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet?
It needs to be sent by private rented sector landlords to all assured and assured shorthold tenants, whose tenancies commenced prior to May 1.
It must be sent prior to May 31 and Government guidance is to serve it as soon as possible to avoid potential non-compliance and penalties being imposed.
It does not need to be given it to lodgers but a copy must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.
For HMOs or shared households, each tenant must receive the sheet individually unless they share a single written agreement.
If a landlord has a letting agent who manages the property on their behalf, the letting agent must also provide the Information Sheet to the tenant, even if the landlord has also provided it.
How Should the Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet Be Provided?
It must be provided to the tenants by either printing a hard copy, which is posted or given to the tenants by hand or by sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example, to an email or text message.
Any verbal tenancy agreements need to be formalised in writing by a landlord and tenant.
What Happens If Landlords Fail to Comply to send the Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet?
If you fail to serve the Information Sheet, this is treated as a breach of the landlords’ statutory duties under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and the following penalties may ensue:
- Civil penalties starting at around £4,000, rising to £7,000;
- Continued noncompliance beyond 28 days after a penalty may escalate to a criminal offence, with fines up to £40,000 or prosecution in serious cases.
New forms published for use post May 1
The Government has also published draft versions of a number of the forms to be used as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
They include the new Notice of Seeking Possession, the new statutory rent increase notice Form 4A etc and we would encourage all landlords to review the new forms so they are ready to start using them in relation to private rented sector stock.
To find out more, please contact our Residential Real Estate team.
Caroline Vernon
Partner & Head of Residential Real Estate
Caroline.vernon@sherrards.com
01727 832830
www.sherrards.com
