Landlords and letting agents in England are required to distribute a new government-issued document to tenants under the Renters’ Rights Act, with non-compliance resulting in fines of up to £7,000.
The ‘Official Information Sheet’ must be provided to all tenants in assured shorthold tenancies created before 1 May 2026 that have written terms or agreements. The deadline for distribution is 31 May 2026.
Distribution requirements
The document can be delivered through printed hard copies posted or handed to tenants, or as a PDF attachment sent via email or text message. Simply sending a link to the PDF does not meet the legal requirement.
Where letting agents manage properties on behalf of landlords, the agent must provide the Information Sheet to tenants, even if the landlord has already done so.
Content and scope
The Information Sheet outlines changes affecting tenants under the Renters’ Rights Act, covering Section 21 notices, rent increases, fixed-term modifications, tenancy termination procedures, student lettings, and pet ownership rules.
The legislation does not mandate changes to existing written tenancy agreements or require them to be re-issued. The document is available for download exclusively from the government website.
Implications for landlords
The requirement adds to administrative obligations for an estimated 2.3 million private landlords operating in England’s rental sector. Property industry professionals will need to ensure compliance systems are in place to track document distribution and maintain records of delivery to avoid potential penalties.
The mandate represents part of the government’s broader reforms to the private rental sector, which aim to provide tenants with greater clarity about their rights under new legislation.
