Landlords face £7,000 fine for not providing Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet
The Government has now published its Renters’ Right Act Information Sheet (“the Information Sheet”), giving landlords and their agents until 31 May 2026 to provide the information Sheet to tenants, or face a £7,000 fine. The provision of the Information Sheet is one more action for landlords to add to their ‘to-do’ list to prevent falling foul of the new statutory regime.
If landlords already have a wholly or partly written record of the terms of an assured or assured shorthold tenancy agreement that was created before 1 May 2026, they simply have to provide the tenant with a copy of the Information Sheet, which explains how the tenancy will change from 1 May 2026. Where there is no written record of the terms of the agreement (ie: if it’s an entirely verbal agreement that was made before 1 May 2026) landlords cannot provide their tenants with a copy of the information sheet and they will instead need to provide information to the tenant about key terms of the tenancy, in writing.
The four-page Information Sheet, which can be downloaded here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bc04b8f7b1c24d8e23ce60/The_Renters__Rights_Act_Information_Sheet_2026.pdf provides an overview of the new Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (“the Act”) and how the changes affect tenants in the private rented sector with an assured or assured shorthold tenancy.
Landlords need to be aware that the Information Sheet has to be supplied to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement, either by printing a hard copy which is posted or given by hand, or by sending the PDF of the Information Sheet as an attachment by email or text. Emailing or texting a link to the pdf will not be valid.
Where a landlord uses a letting agent to manage the property, the government has confirmed that the agent is responsible for providing the Information Sheet to all named tenants, even if the landlord has already done so. It is therefore crucial that landlords and letting agents communicate about supplying the Information Sheet to all named tenants and keep a record of when, to whom and how it has been supplied, in order to address any potential complaints of non-receipt by tenants.
The Information Sheet details changes contained in the Act, including the abolition of fixed term tenancies; the new process for rent increases; how landlords or tenants can end tenancies; and the right to keep a pet.
What information needs to be provided to if there is no existing written tenancy agreement?
The Government has published guidance that landlords have to follow where a tenancy (made before 1 May 2026) is based entirely on a verbal agreement. Instead of the Information Sheet, landlords need to provide written information about the key terms of the tenancy instead, including core tenancy particulars such as landlord’s name and address, tenants name, property address, start date, rent amount, deposit details and specific information regarding bills. The guidance can be downloaded here: Renting out your property: guidance for landlords and letting agents – Tenancy agreements: written information for your tenant – Guidance – GOV.UK
Moving goalposts
The Act comes into force on 1 May 2026 and landlords need to be compliant with all of the changes or potentially face substantial fines for non-compliance. This is easier said than done, as the goalposts continue to move, even at this late stage. For example, the Government is still publishing secondary legislation in relation to the Act, as well as what are referred to as ‘consequential amendments’ which will bring forward further changes to allow the provisions of the Act to be implemented on 1 May 2026. Landlords are advised to keep a close eye on all developments regarding the Act to avoid facing severe consequences.
How to comply
While it may look like a minefield for landlords, there are some simple steps to take to comply:
- Confirm whether you need to provide the Renters’ Rights Information Sheet or full written terms of the tenancy.
- If you have agents acting for you, check to make sure that they have provided the Information Sheet to all named tenants
- Make sure that for all existing tenancies that started before 1 May 2026, you or your agents provide the necessary information to all named tenants in the correct form before the deadline of 31 May 2026.
Contact our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Teams
Lee Stafford, Partner and Tatsiana Rao, Associate Solicitor, are members of our Litigation & Dispute Resolution team.
Should you require any further advice or assistance, please contact us at litigation@bishopandsewell.co.uk or call 0207 7079 2410.
The above is accurate as at 25 March 2026. The information above may be subject to change. The content of this note should not be considered legal advice and each matter should be considered on a case by case basis.
