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For many landlords, the key question is no longer what changed on 1 May 2026, but whether anything still needs to be done now. The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 created a specific transitional obligation for certain existing tenancies, and missing the main deadline can leave an unresolved compliance issue rather than a closed administrative task.
That makes it important to identify exactly which tenancies were caught, whether any transitional possession rules changed the timing, and what steps can still be taken after the deadline. This guide works through those points so landlords can understand their position, correct any outstanding failure and reduce the risk of further enforcement action.
What Is the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026?
It is a document the government requires landlords to give to certain existing tenants, explaining how their tenancy changed under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. In legal terms it is "prescribed information"; information the law says must be given, in a set form.
The document that counts is The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, in the version produced by the Secretary of State that has effect at the time. Before sending it, check GOV.UK and use the version currently in force rather than assuming a copy you saved earlier is still current.
It is a transitional document. It was designed for tenancies that already existed when the reforms began, so that tenants who had not signed anything new would still be told what had changed. It is not the same thing as the written statement of terms used for new tenancies.
Who Had to Be Given It, and by When?
The duty applied to an existing tenancy, an assured tenancy entered into before the relevant commencement date where that tenancy was wholly or partly in writing, subject to the private-sector commencement rules. For most private-sector assured tenancies, the relevant commencement date was 1 May 2026. Social housing assured tenancies are excluded from this Information Sheet requirement.
"Partly in writing" matters: an arrangement does not need a full signed agreement to fall within the duty.
Where the duty applied, the landlord had to give the tenant the prescribed information within one month of commencement. For the ordinary private-sector case that meant 31 May 2026.
GOV.UK says a copy should be given to every named tenant.
Note
Some landlords with valid section 8 or section 21 notices served before 1 May 2026 could have had a later commencement date. Lodgers do not need to be given the Information Sheet. This guidance applies to England; the other UK nations have their own rules.
Situation | Did the Information Sheet duty apply? |
|---|---|
Private-sector assured tenancy to which the reforms applied from 1 May 2026, entered into before that date and wholly or partly in writing | Yes |
Wholly oral tenancy entered into before 1 May 2026 | Information Sheet: No. A separate written-information duty applies |
Assured tenancy entered into on or after 1 May 2026 | Information Sheet: No. A separate written-information duty applies |
Lodger (someone living with their landlord) | No |
Property outside England | Not covered by this guidance |
Did Your Deadline Fall Later Than 31 May?
Not every landlord was working to 31 May 2026.
Landlords who had served a valid section 8 or section 21 notice before 1 May 2026 which remained valid immediately before that date may have had a later commencement date for that tenancy. Where that was the case, and the saved notice later ceased to be valid, or possession proceedings concluded without possession being granted, the landlord generally had one month from that later date to provide the sheet.
Most landlords relying on a section 8 or section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026 had to start possession proceedings by 31 July 2026. If proceedings were started in time, the case could continue after that date until it was concluded.
Because these transitional rules can change the date on which the new tenancy rules started to apply, the one-month deadline for giving the Information Sheet may also have started later. Landlords should therefore check the dates of their notice and any possession proceedings before assuming that 31 May 2026 was their deadline.
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A limited exception applied to certain section 8 rent-arrears cases where the tenant was protected by the Debt Respite Scheme, commonly known as Breathing Space. This scheme gives people with problem debt temporary protection from creditor action, which can delay certain possession steps for rent arrears. In those cases, the relevant possession deadline could be extended.
