The RRA Information Sheet: What Landlords Must Do Before 31 May 2026
Published: April 15, 2026
The government published the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 on 20 March 2026. If you are a landlord with existing tenants, you are legally required to send them this document by 31 May 2026. Fines for non-compliance start at £4,000.
This is not optional. It is not complicated. But the delivery rules have specific requirements that are easy to get wrong.
Here is exactly what you need to do.
Does This Apply to You?
The requirement applies if all three of these conditions are met:
The tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy
It was created before 1 May 2026
There is a wholly or partly written record of terms (including a written tenancy agreement)
It does not apply to lodgers.
If you are a social landlord letting a property on a non-social tenancy, it may apply to you too.
One exception: if the tenancy is based entirely on a verbal agreement made before 1 May 2026, you cannot use the Information Sheet. You must instead provide a Written Statement of Terms covering the key details of the tenancy. The deadline is the same: 31 May 2026.
Most landlords will have written tenancy agreements, which means the Information Sheet is what you need to send.
How to Deliver It
The rules here are specific. Getting this wrong means you have not legally complied, even if your tenant has seen the document.
Download the exact PDF from the GOV.UK page. The Information Sheet is only valid when downloaded directly from this page. No other version counts. You cannot recreate it, summarise it, or use a version from a third-party website.
Do not alter it. The document must be sent exactly as published. No additions, no annotations, no cover letters stapled to the front that could be mistaken for part of the official document.
Send it as an attachment or a hard copy. You can print it and post it, hand it to your tenant in person, or send the PDF electronically as an email or text message attachment. What you cannot do is email or text a link to the PDF. A link does not count as valid delivery.
Send a copy to every named tenant. Not one copy per property. Every individual named on the tenancy agreement must receive their own copy. For HMOs or shared households, each tenant gets the sheet individually unless they share a single written agreement.
What About Letting Agents?
If a letting agent manages the property on your behalf, the agent must also provide the Information Sheet to the tenant. This applies even if you have already sent it yourself. It is a separate legal obligation on the agent.
If you use an agent, do not assume this is being handled. Confirm with them directly that they are sending it, and ask for evidence of delivery.
Keep Proof
The government guidance does not prescribe how you prove delivery, but you should keep a record. If you are emailing, keep the sent message with the attachment visible. If posting, consider using recorded delivery. If handing it over in person, get a dated signature.
If a dispute arises later, you will need to demonstrate that you complied.
What Does the Information Sheet Tell Tenants?
It explains how their tenancy will change from 1 May 2026. It covers:
The shift from fixed-term to periodic (rolling) tenancies
The end of Section 21 no-fault evictions
New possession grounds and notice periods landlords must follow
Rent increase rules, including the once-per-year limit and the right to challenge increases at the Tribunal
The right to request a pet
Student-specific provisions, including Ground 4A for student HMOs
Where tenants can get support, including legal aid for possession proceedings
You do not need to explain any of this to your tenant yourself. The document does the work. Your obligation is simply to deliver it.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
The local council can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000. The starting point for fines is around £4,000, with the amount depending on the severity and any aggravating factors.
If non-compliance continues for more than 28 days after a penalty has been issued, it can escalate to a criminal offence with fines of up to £40,000 or prosecution.
This is a straightforward administrative task. The penalties for ignoring it are not.
Step-by-Step: What to Do Right Now
Go to the GOV.UK Information Sheet page
Download the PDF
List every tenant named on every tenancy agreement created before 1 May 2026
Send the PDF as an attachment (email or text) or print and post/hand-deliver to each named tenant
If you use a letting agent, confirm they are also sending it independently
Save your proof of delivery (sent emails, recorded delivery receipts, signed acknowledgements)
That is it. Six steps. Do not wait until late May.
How This Connects to the Bigger Picture
The Information Sheet is one part of preparing for the Renters' Rights Act. For the full picture of what is changing, key dates, and how to protect your rental income under the new rules, read our Complete Guide to the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
The Act makes thorough tenant assessment and the right insurance cover more important than ever. Without Section 21, landlords need confidence in their tenants from day one and protection that covers the longer possession timelines ahead.
Husmus AI-powered tenant assessments go beyond credit checks to identify reliable tenants. Every tenant who passes is eligible for Husmus Rent Guarantee Insurance, covering lost rental income and legal costs if things go wrong.