Every landlord with a tenancy that existed before 1 May 2026 had to give tenants the government Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. Failure can attract a civil penalty of up to £7,000. The duty did not expire with the deadline — if you have not served it, serve it now.
This is the requirement most landlords have either forgotten about or assumed did not apply to them. It was quiet, it had a short window, and the penalty is real.
What the Information Sheet is
When the Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026, every existing assured shorthold tenancy converted automatically to an assured periodic tenancy. Tenants did not sign anything. Nothing arrived in the post. Their tenancy simply changed underneath them overnight.
The Information Sheet is how the Government decided tenants should be told. It is a standard document explaining the new rules and what they mean for an existing tenancy.
The duty sat with the landlord — or the managing agent, where they are responsible for management.
Who had to serve it
- Existing written tenancies — agreed before 1 May 2026: give the Information Sheet by 31 May 2026
- Older verbal agreements — provide a written record of the key terms by the same date
- New tenancies from 1 May 2026 — different requirement: a written statement of terms at the start of the tenancy
You did not need to reissue tenancy agreements. That is a separate point that caused a lot of unnecessary worry — your existing agreement remains valid even though it still says “assured shorthold”.
The version matters
To be valid, you must use the official document published on GOV.UK. A summary you wrote yourself, a letting agent’s own leaflet, or a version copied from a blog does not satisfy the requirement.
Download it fresh rather than reusing a copy someone forwarded you.
The penalty
Local authorities can impose a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for failing to comply. That is per breach.
Two things are worth understanding about how this is likely to play out in practice.
Councils have new investigatory powers. Since 27 December 2025 local authorities can inspect properties, demand documents and access third-party data to check whether a landlord has broken the rules. Asking you to produce evidence that you served the Information Sheet is straightforward for them.
It tends to surface during another dispute. A tenant complains about repairs, or you begin possession proceedings, and the question of whether you complied with your obligations comes up. Compliance failures rarely get discovered in isolation.
What to do if you missed it
Do not conclude that the deadline passing means the obligation has gone away. It has not.
- Serve it now. Download the current official version from GOV.UK and send it to every tenant whose tenancy began before 1 May 2026.
- Send it in a way that creates a record. Email is ideal. If you post it, keep proof of posting.
- Write down what you did and when. A dated note on file is worth having if you are ever asked.
- Check every property. Landlords with several tenancies frequently find they served some and not others.
- Ask your agent for confirmation in writing. If they manage the property, they may have served it — but the legal responsibility is still yours, so get evidence rather than an assurance.
Late compliance is a considerably better position than no compliance. A landlord who served it late and has records is in a different position to one who never served it at all.
What else changed on 1 May that you may have missed
The Information Sheet is often missed because it landed alongside much larger changes. Worth checking you are on top of these too:
- Section 21 abolished — see our guide on how possession works now
- Fixed terms and break clauses ended — all tenancies are periodic
- Rent increases — once a year, by Section 13 notice only
- Rental bidding banned — you must advertise a true asking rent and cannot accept more
- Pet requests — tenants can request, you must respond in writing within 28 days
- Discrimination — blanket bans on benefit recipients or families with children are unlawful
Frequently asked questions
The deadline has passed — is there any point serving it now?
Yes. The obligation continues. Serving late is far better than never serving, and demonstrates you took steps to comply once you realised.
Can I email it?
Yes, provided your tenancy permits service by email or the tenant has agreed to it. Email has the advantage of creating an automatic record.
My agent manages the property — is it their problem?
The duty falls to whoever is responsible for management, but as landlord you retain overall exposure. Get written confirmation from your agent that it was served, and to which tenants.
Does this apply to a tenancy that started after 1 May 2026?
No. New tenancies from that date need a written statement of terms at the outset instead. The Information Sheet requirement was specifically for tenancies that predated the change.
Do I need to reissue tenancy agreements?
No. Existing agreements remain valid. The conversion to a periodic tenancy happened automatically in law regardless of what the document says.
What if the tenant has since moved out?
The obligation applied while the tenancy was running. If it has properly ended, the practical risk falls away — but keep any records you do have.
- Deadline was 31 May 2026 for pre-existing tenancies
- Penalty up to £7,000
- Must be the official GOV.UK document
- Duty has not expired — serve it late if you missed it
- Councils have had investigatory powers since December 2025
- No need to reissue tenancy agreements
Related Articles
- Life after Section 21 — how possession works now
- Landlord compliance deadlines 2026–2030
- Does Awaab’s Law apply to private landlords?
RentalReadyUK produces plain-English compliance guides for private landlords in England, written against primary sources. This article is general information and not legal advice. If you have received an enforcement notice, take advice from a solicitor.