Landlords across England face a looming deadline to provide tenants with the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to £7,000, as the government emphasises the importance of this new requirement under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Deadline and requirements
The government mandates that every tenant named on an assured or assured shorthold tenancy agreement created before 1 May 2026 must receive a copy of the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet. This document summarises key legislative changes, including the abolition of fixed-term tenancies and updated rules on rent increases.
Landlords must ensure tenants receive this information sheet by the end of May 2026. Where a letting agent manages the property, the responsibility to provide the sheet lies with the agent, regardless of whether the landlord has already supplied it.
Responsibilities of letting agents
Neil McGimpsey, group chief operating officer at Lomond, highlighted the critical role letting agents play in meeting this deadline. He stated: “By the end of May, tenants must receive the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. Where a property is managed by an agent, responsibility for issuing this rests with the agent, regardless of whether the landlord has already provided it. Failure to supply tenants with the sheet by the deadline could result in fines of up to £7,000.”
McGimpsey also reminded landlords with previously verbal tenancy agreements that they must provide written terms by the same deadline. He urged letting agents to maintain close communication with landlords, ensure accurate distribution of information, and keep clear records to support compliance and avoid future complications.
Proof of delivery is essential
Goodlord, a lettings platform, emphasises that proof of delivery of the information sheet is crucial. The document can be provided either digitally or as a hard copy, but simply emailing or texting a link to the PDF is not acceptable. Landlords and agents must ensure tenants receive the actual document or an attachment.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, explained: “The Information Sheet must be provided either as a physical hard copy or electronically, such as via email. It is important to note that simply sharing a web link to the information sheet will not meet the required communication standards.” He also advised letting agents to keep comprehensive records of all communications to support any potential complaints or audits.
What this means for landlords
Landlords must act swiftly to avoid significant penalties. Providing the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is now a legal obligation that applies to existing tenancies created before 1 May 2026. Failure to comply could lead to fines reaching £7,000, making this one of the first major compliance tests under the new legislation.
Landlords who use letting agents should confirm that the agents have fulfilled their responsibility to supply the information sheet to tenants. Additionally, landlords with verbal tenancy agreements must ensure written terms are issued by 31 May 2026 to meet legal requirements.
Source: Based on reporting from Property118
TLA Training Academy
The Landlord Association has launched its new Training Academy for UK landlords, providing structured guidance, compliance education, and practical knowledge to support landlords at every stage. Members can now complete the programme and become TLA Certified Landlords at no additional cost as part of their membership.
Landlords can explore the Academy here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/tla-academy/
Those looking to join and access the full training and certification can register here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/landlord-association-membership-uk/
TLA update
The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/
Source: www.property118.com
TLA - The Landlord Association