The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet: What It Is, Who Must Provide It, and the Deadline You Cannot Miss

The mandatory document every landlord and agent must hand to existing tenants by 31 May 2026 — or face a £7,000 fine

---

---

Most landlords know the Renters' Rights Act 2025 takes effect on 1 May 2026. What many have not realised is that there is a separate, one-off obligation that applies specifically to existing tenancies — and it has its own deadline.

The Information Sheet is a government-published document that explains how the Act changes a tenant's rights. It must be physically or electronically delivered to every qualifying tenant within one month of the Act coming into force. Miss the deadline, and you are in breach from day one.

What Is the Information Sheet?

The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet is a document prepared and published by the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. It summarises the key changes the Act makes to tenants' rights, including:

• The end of Section 21 "no-fault" evictions
• New rules on rent increases (Section 13 only, once per 12 months)
• Tenants' right to request pets
• The new grounds for possession
• How to challenge unfair rent increases at tribunal

It is designed to be given to tenants who started their tenancy under the old rules so they understand how their rights have changed.

This is not the same as the "How to Rent" guide. The How to Rent guide is for new tenancies. The Information Sheet is a transitional document for existing tenants whose tenancies convert to the new regime on 1 May 2026.

Who Must Provide It?

You must provide the Information Sheet if all three of the following apply:

Who is responsible?

• Landlords must provide the Information Sheet to their tenants
• Letting agents acting on behalf of the landlord must ensure the sheet is provided — you cannot assume the landlord has done it

If you manage properties through an agent, check with them now. If you self-manage, the responsibility is entirely yours.

Who is exempt?

The requirement does not apply to:

• Lodgers — People renting a room in a property where the landlord also lives
• Tenancies with no written terms — Verbal-only agreements (though these are rare and inadvisable)
• Tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026 — New tenancies are subject to the full Act from day one; the Information Sheet is specifically for the transitional period
• Non-AST tenancies — Such as assured tenancies, licences to occupy, or company lets

What Is the Deadline?

The Information Sheet must be provided within one month of the Act coming into force:

There is no extension mechanism. There is no grace period. If you have not provided it by 31 May 2026, you are in breach.

How Must It Be Provided?

The Act requires you to provide the exact document published by the Secretary of State. This means:

• Download the official PDF from GOV.UK
• Give it to the tenant — electronically (digital attachment) or in hard copy
• Do not paraphrase, summarise, or link to it — the tenant must receive the actual document

Sending a link to the GOV.UK page does not count. Writing your own summary does not count. The tenant must have the document itself.

Best practice: create a record

There is no prescribed method of proving you have provided the Information Sheet, but if a dispute arises, you will want evidence. Consider:

• Email it as a PDF attachment and keep the sent email (with timestamp and delivery confirmation)
• Hand it over in person and have the tenant sign a dated receipt
• Use Togal to send it as a document within your property's communication thread — creating a timestamped, immutable record that cannot be disputed

The point is simple: if you cannot prove you provided it, a tribunal may treat it as if you did not.

What Happens If You Do Not Provide It?

Failure to provide the Information Sheet is a breach of section 12 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. The consequences:

To put that in perspective: the cost of compliance is zero. The document is free to download, free to email, and takes five minutes to send. The cost of non-compliance is up to £7,000 per tenancy.

For a landlord with 5 properties, that is a potential exposure of £35,000 — for not sending a free PDF.

Track your Information Sheet delivery with Togal — send it as a document within your property's communication thread and create a timestamped, immutable record that proves you provided it. Start your free trial.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Right Now

If you have existing tenants on written ASTs, here is exactly what to do:

1. Download the Information Sheet

Go to GOV.UK and download the PDF. Save it somewhere you will not lose it.

2. Identify qualifying tenancies

Check each of your properties:

• Is the tenancy an AST?
• Did it start before 1 May 2026?
• Is there a written tenancy agreement?

If all three are yes, that tenant needs the Information Sheet.

3. Send it before 31 May 2026

Email the PDF to the tenant, or hand them a printed copy. Do not wait until the last week — email servers fail, tenants change addresses, and you do not want to be chasing this on 30 May.

4. Keep proof of delivery

Save the sent email, the read receipt, or the signed acknowledgement. Store it with your tenancy records. If you use Togal, upload it as a document and send it via the messaging system — both actions create permanent, timestamped evidence.

5. Add it to your compliance checklist

If you use Togal's Tenancy Compliance Checklist, the Information Sheet is listed as a required item for all tenancies — including pre-Act. Mark it as complete once provided to keep your compliance record up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

I already gave my tenants the "How to Rent" guide. Do I still need to provide the Information Sheet?

Yes. These are two different documents with different legal requirements. The How to Rent guide explains general renting rights. The Information Sheet specifically explains how the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes the tenant's existing rights. Both are required.

What if my tenancy started before 1 May 2026 but the fixed term has ended and it is now periodic?

You still need to provide it. The requirement applies to all ASTs that existed before 1 May 2026, regardless of whether they are still in a fixed term or have become periodic.

Can I include the Information Sheet as part of a letter or email with other information?

You must provide the actual document published by the Secretary of State. You can attach it to an email that includes other information, but the Information Sheet itself must be the official PDF — not your own reformatted version.

Do I need to provide it to tenants who are in the process of moving out?

If the tenancy is still active on 1 May 2026 and meets the three criteria (AST, pre-Act, written terms), you should provide it. The safest approach is to provide it to every qualifying tenant regardless of their plans.

My letting agent manages the property. Whose responsibility is it?

Both. The legal obligation falls on the landlord, but the agent has a duty of care to ensure compliance. If your agent fails to provide it and you receive a penalty, the agent's negligence does not absolve you. Confirm with your agent now that they have a plan for distribution.

What if my tenant says they do not want it?

Provide it anyway and document that you did. The obligation is on you to provide it, not on the tenant to accept it. If they refuse to take a hard copy, send it by email and keep the proof.

---

This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific situations, consult a qualified property solicitor.

---

Further Reading:

• Renters' Rights Act 2025 Landlord Guide
• Renters' Rights Act Penalties: Fines, Bans, and Rent Repayment Orders
• Landlord Compliance Certificates Guide

---

Sources:

• The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 — GOV.UK
• Renters' Rights Act 2025, Section 12
• GOV.UK Guidance on Civil Penalties Under the Housing Act 2004