Essential update for rural landlords: what you must do by 31 May 2026
We explain which tenants must receive the new Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, how to serve it correctly and the penalties for missing the deadline
The UK Government has now published the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, advising that all private residential landlords in England must serve this on existing tenants by 31 May 2026 where the tenancy:
- Is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy (AST), and
- Was created before 1 May 2026, and
- Has a wholly or partly written record of terms, including any written tenancy agreement.
Failure to serve notice of the information sheet can result in fines up to £7,000 for a single breach, so landlords must ensure that this action is completed.
You must use the exact document found on the government website, you should not obtain the information sheet from any other sources (this includes the CLA, so we cannot send you a copy, digitally or printed). The website to obtain the PDF is below.
Who must receive the information sheet?
All tenants of assured or assured shorthold tenancies must receive the information sheet. This means in the case of multiple people named on a tenancy agreement, they each must receive their own copy.
If there is no written statement of terms or tenancy agreement, because the agreement is entirely verbal, but the property is let as an assured or assured shorthold tenancy, you must not serve this information sheet. Under another provision of the Renters’ Rights Act, you must serve these tenants with a Written Statement of Terms (such as a tenancy agreement) before 31 May 2026, as all tenancies must now be in writing.
How can you serve the information sheet?
The two ways to serve this document are:
- A printed hard copy
- An electronic attachment
Like the government’s ‘How to rent’ guide, the information sheet cannot be served by sending the tenants a link to it. If serving electronically, it must be as an attachment only. Links to a PDF are not valid service of the information sheet. Note, if your tenancy agreement does not allow electronic service of notices you should provide tenants with a hard copy.
If you use an external agent to manage your properties, can they serve the information sheet for you?
Yes. In fact, if using an external agent, they must serve the information sheet, even if you also serve it on your tenants.
Do you need to give existing tenants a new agreement?
No. You only need to serve the information sheet on existing tenants; you do not need to amend terms within an existing written agreement.
Does the CLA have an assured tenancy precedent to offer members?
Unfortunately, our precedent provider does not yet offer an agreement which is up to date with the Renters’ Rights Act changes. However, the government has published a list of mandatory terms and information which must be included in written statements after 1 May 2026. This includes:
- Details of the rent and other payments
- Details about the landlord, the tenant and the property
- Information about how the tenancy may be ended (this includes notice of any of the Section 8 grounds which will require prior notice, for example the ‘Incoming Agricultural Worker’ ground)
- Statements setting out the landlord’s obligations to keep the property in a safe condition
- Information about the tenant’s right to request pets or adaptations to the property
As soon as our precedent provider has drafted an updated agreement, or one becomes available on the government’s website, we will let members know.
