Information sheet published: what do landlords need to do?

The government has published the information sheet which explains a tenants’ new rights under the Renters’ Rights Act. It’s one of the first mandatory steps of the Renters’ Rights Act and affects the majority of landlords in England.

Find out how to follow the latest regulations and avoid a potential £7,000 fine.

What is the information sheet?

The Renters’ Rights Act information sheet is a mandatory legal document produced by the government. It’s a PDF that you (or your letting agent) are legally required to serve to your tenant in England.

The document explains your tenant’s new rights under the Act. It highlights which rules have changed and that they apply from 1 May – even if they’re not reflected in their tenancy agreement.

Important: you must provide the exact PDF from the government website. Sending a link to the website or a modified version of the text isn’t legally valid. You need to download the PDF and either print a physical copy or attach the PDF directly in an email or text.

The information sheet must be shared with tenants by 31 May 2026, otherwise you could risk a fine of up to £7,000.

What’s in the information sheet?

The document is a four-page summary of how the Renters’ Rights Act changes tenancy agreements in England. It covers the:

move to periodic tenancies
end of fixed-term tenancy
rules for raising rent
new eviction process
new rights to keep a pet
different rules for student accommodation

Assured shorthold tenancies abolished

From 1 May 2026, assured shorthold tenancies (AST) will no longer exist for new or existing tenancies. All tenancies will automatically convert into assured periodic tenancies.

The information sheet clarifies that any existing tenancies will become a periodic tenancy from 1 May. This change will happen even if a current tenancy agreement says otherwise.

The end of fixed-term tenancies

Landlords will no longer be able to offer six or 12-month fixed-term contracts. Tenancies instead will become periodic (rolling from the start, usually month-to-month).

The information sheet explains to tenants that there’s no fixed end date to their tenancy. It will continue until:

you both agree to end the tenancy
your tenant ends the tenancy by giving notice
you end the tenancy, giving a valid legal reason (with a Section 8 notice)

New rules for raising rent

The process for rent rises has been overhauled in the Renters’ Rights Act. The information sheet explains these changes to your tenant, including:

any rent review clause in their tenancy agreement is now void
a minimum of two months’ notice to raise rent is required (up from one month)
increases are limited to once a year
landlords must use the Section 13 process to raise rent
rent rises must be inline with market rates, and tenants can dispute any rises they believe are above them

New eviction process

With Section 21 abolished, you can only regain possession using a Section 8 notice. Your tenant’s new rights are explained in the information sheet and the valid reasons for an eviction are briefly explained:

when rent hasn’t been paid on time (three months in arrears)
if the tenants, or others visiting them, commit antisocial behaviour in or near the property
if the tenant doesn’t care for the property properly
if the tenancy was for specific purposes, like being connected to employment
if you intend to sell your property
if you or a family member wants to move into your property

If a tenant wants to end their tenancy

Tenants can now end their tenancy at any time by giving two months’ notice. They no longer have to wait for a fixed term to expire.

The sheet explains that:

the tenancy must end on a day when the rent is due or the day before the rent is due
notices must be in writing, for example, by letter or email

Tenants can agree to a shorter notice period with you in writing, as long as any other tenants named on the tenancy agreement also agree.

Keeping a pet

Tenants now have a legal right to request a pet, and you can’t unreasonably refuse. The new rules are:

you have 28 days to respond to a written request for a pet from a tenant
you must have a good reason to refuse the request (the property is too small, for example)
you can require the tenant to take out pet insurance to cover potential damages

Different rules for student accommodation

To protect the yearly cycle of student housing, a specific ground for possession (Ground 4A) has been introduced. This means it’s possible to evict a student tenant at the end of an academic year, with a given notice period.

The new rules state you must give four months’ notice to your tenants for ending their contract between 1 June and 30 September.

What do landlords need to do next?

Serve the information sheet– give a copy to every named tenant on your agreements by 31 May, 2026.
Share the direct file – deliver a printed version by hand or post – or as a PDF attachment in an email or text. Don’t just send a link to the government site.
Verbal agreements – if you have a purely verbal agreement with a tenant, you mustprovide a written statement of termsinstead of this information sheet.
Keep a record – have proof that you shared the information sheet with your tenant to avoid the £7,000 fine.

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