Renters’ Rights - are you ready?

The countdown is on, and it is now just two weeks until the tenancy elements of the Renters’ Rights Act come into force. 

As the deadline approaches, we are reminding you what you need to do to prepare for the change. 

As a landlord you must provide existing tenants with an information sheet produced by the Government informing them of the changes. A copy must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.

This four-page sheet must be served to all existing tenants between the 1st of May and no later than 31st May to comply with the new rules and it must be downloaded directly from the Government website here.

You must provide this to the tenants by either:

• printing a hard copy, which is posted or given to the tenants by hand
• sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example, to an email or text message

You must not email or text a link to the PDF to the tenant, as this will not be valid. 

It doesn’t include any new information but lets tenants know about how the changes will affect: 

• Possessions and notice periods. 
• The abolition of the fixed term.
• Rent increases.    
• The right to keep a pet.    

It is mandatory to provide this, and if you fail to do so you could be hit with a fine of upto £7,000.

If you have a letting agent who manages the property on your behalf, then the agent must provide the Information Sheet to the tenant, even if you have also provided it.

If you have any properties that you have let privately where the tenancy is entirely verbal that was made before 1 May 2026, then you cannot give this Information Sheet. You must provide certain written information about key terms of the tenancy instead. You can find out more about this by searching GOV.UK for ‘Tenancy agreements: written information for your tenant’.

For more information on the Renter's Rights Act please refer to the government website. www.gov.uk