New data reveals that many landlords in England are at risk of missing the 31 May deadline to provide tenants with the mandatory Renters’ Rights Act information sheet. Despite 153,000 downloads of the official document within the first four weeks of its release, this figure falls short compared to the estimated 2.3 million private landlords required to comply.

Low engagement with Renters’ Rights Act information

A Freedom of Information request submitted by Landlord Studio to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has shed light on landlord engagement with the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) compliance materials. The government’s information sheet, which landlords must serve on tenants by 31 May, was downloaded 153,000 times in the initial four weeks after publication.

Given the size of the private rented sector, this number suggests that many landlords may not have accessed or distributed the required information. Landlord Studio’s co-founder, Logan Ransley, commented on the challenge, stating: “Even allowing for reuse across portfolios, engagement with the official document looks low compared with the size of the private rented sector.”

Compliance challenges across the sector

Ransley highlighted the uneven nature of compliance within the property sector, noting that some landlords have established systems for managing regulatory requirements, while others rely on manual or informal processes. He added, “When you introduce something like this on a fixed deadline, it doesn’t land in the same way for everyone.”

With the deadline approaching, Ransley emphasised the importance for landlords not only to provide the necessary information but also to maintain evidence of compliance. Failure to do so could result in penalties of up to £7,000 per tenancy.

Uneven landlord compliance and agent involvement

The Freedom of Information response also revealed that there were 189,000 sessions on the government’s Renters’ Rights Act webpage during the same four-week period. This indicates that not every visitor proceeded to download the official information sheet.

Letting agents may account for some of the discrepancy, as a single download could be shared across multiple landlords or portfolios. Nonetheless, Landlord Studio interprets the data as indicative of uneven engagement with the compliance materials ahead of the statutory deadline.

What this means for landlords

Landlords must urgently review their compliance status regarding the Renters’ Rights Act. Ensuring tenants receive the official information sheet by the 31 May deadline is not only a legal obligation but also critical to avoid substantial fines. Landlords should also establish clear records demonstrating that the information has been served.

For those who have yet to engage with the official guidance, immediate action is necessary. The varying levels of preparedness across the sector underscore the need for landlords to adopt robust compliance systems, whether independently or with the support of letting agents and property managers.

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.

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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/