The government has published the mandatory Tenant Information Sheet that landlords must serve on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026. This new requirement is part of the Renters’ Rights Act and failure to comply could result in significant fines.

Mandatory Tenant Information Sheet Now Available

Landlords should now download the official Tenant Information Sheet directly from the government’s website to ensure validity. The government has emphasised that only the version downloaded from the official page is acceptable, so landlords must not rely on copies from other sources.

This sheet must be served on all tenants who hold tenancy agreements as of 1 May 2026. It is a legal obligation designed to inform tenants of their rights under the new legislation.

Deadline and Penalties for Non-Compliance

The Tenant Information Sheet must be served on all tenants by 31 May 2026. Failure to do so exposes landlords to a civil penalty notice issued by the Local Authority, with fines of up to £7,000.

Government guidance to Local Authorities sets the starting point for fines at £4,000, highlighting the seriousness of this requirement. Landlords must therefore prioritise timely service to avoid these penalties.

Serving the Information Sheet: What Landlords Need to Know

The information sheet must be served on every tenant individually. For properties with joint and several tenancies, this means each tenant must receive their own copy. Simply giving the sheet to one tenant to distribute to others is insufficient and could leave landlords vulnerable to complaints.

Tenants who claim they have not received the sheet can report this to the Local Authority after the deadline, so landlords need robust proof of service to defend themselves.

Proving Service

The most reliable method to prove service is to deliver the sheet in person, perhaps during a property inspection, and obtain signatures from all tenants confirming receipt. If some tenants are absent, landlords should serve those tenants separately, for example by email, ensuring each tenant receives their own copy.

Other acceptable methods include:

• Sending the sheet as an email attachment and requesting confirmation of receipt. If no confirmation is received, landlords should attempt alternative methods.
• Posting the sheet in an envelope addressed to each tenant through the property letterbox, ideally witnessed by an independent party and supported by a dated photograph.
• Sending the sheet by recorded delivery to each tenant, bearing in mind that tenants may refuse to accept delivery, which would require re-serving by another method.
• Posting two copies to each tenant via normal mail with proof of posting, reducing the risk of claims that the sheet was lost in transit.
• Providing the sheet to new tenants signing agreements before 1 May 2026 and obtaining their signature to confirm receipt.

What this means for landlords

Landlords must ensure they serve the Tenant Information Sheet on time and maintain clear evidence of service. If contacted by a Local Authority after 1 June 2026 with a notice of intent to issue a civil penalty for failure to serve the sheet, landlords should be prepared to provide a scanned copy of the signed and dated form as proof.

Failure to comply not only risks substantial fines but could also damage landlord-tenant relations and complicate future enforcement actions.

Source: Based on reporting from The Landlord Law Blog

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/

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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/