Renters’ Rights Act 2026: What Landlords Need to Do Before 31 May

Renters’ Rights Act 2026: What Landlords Need to Do Before 31 May

If you’re a landlord in England, this is one of those updates worth paying attention to now — not at the end of May when everyone starts panicking.

The government has now published the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, and for some landlords, there is now a clear deadline attached to it.

If you already have a tenant in place and they are on a signed written tenancy agreement, you may need to serve that document by 31 May 2026. GOV.UK confirms that landlords with an existing written tenancy signed before 1 May 2026 do not need to rewrite or reissue the tenancy agreement itself, but they do need to provide the government’s official Information Sheet. 

That sounds simple enough.

But this is part of a much bigger change — and that is where many self-managing landlords are likely to get caught out.

This only applies if you already have a written tenancy agreement

This is the first thing to get clear.

The 31 May 2026 Information Sheet deadline applies where there is already an existing written tenancy agreement in place.

So, if your tenant signed a tenancy agreement before 1 May 2026, you do not need to issue a brand new tenancy agreement just because the law is changing. Instead, you need to provide the government’s published Information Sheet explaining how the new rules affect that tenancy. 

That part is relatively straightforward.

The bigger issue is what happens if you do not have a signed written tenancy at all.

What if there is no written tenancy agreement?

This is where a lot of landlords will make the wrong assumption.

If you do not have a signed tenancy agreement, that does not mean the law simply does not apply to you.

In many cases, it means you are in a different tenancy position altogether — and often a less protected one from a paperwork and evidence point of view.

A tenancy can still exist in law even if it is verbal rather than written. Citizens Advice confirms that tenancy agreements can be written or verbal, but written agreements are far easier to evidence and rely on later if there is a dispute. 

So if you are self-managing and your arrangement has been running informally for years, this is exactly the sort of moment where it is worth checking whether your setup is actually in order.

Because once the new rules kick in, “we’ve always done it this way” will not help much if something goes wrong.

Why this is a much bigger deal than one PDF

This is not just about sending a document and ticking a box.

The Renters’ Rights Act is one of the biggest changes the private rented sector has seen in decades.

The government has described the reforms as historic, and national coverage has called it the biggest shake-up to renting laws in around 40 years. In practical terms, this is the biggest structural change landlords have seen since the tenancy framework created under the Housing Act 1988. 

So if you are a landlord, this is not a “small update”.

It is a major reset in how private renting works.

What is changing under the Renters’ Rights Act?

From 1 May 2026, private renting in England changes in a very real way.

Some of the most important changes include:

1. Section 21 is ending

Landlords will no longer be able to rely on Section 21 no-fault evictions for new action after the changes take effect. Instead, possession will need to be based on valid legal grounds. 

2. Fixed term ASTs are effectively going

The traditional assured shorthold tenancy structure changes significantly, with the system moving toward assured periodic tenancies as the default. 

3. Most tenancies will become rolling periodic tenancies

Rather than the old fixed-term model, most tenancies will continue on a rolling basis unless brought to an end lawfully. 

4. Rent increase rules are changing

Rent review procedures become more structured, and landlords will need to be more careful about how increases are handled. 

5. Compliance and paperwork matter more

This is probably the bit many landlords will underestimate.

Under the new system, your paperwork, service records, written terms and process will matter far more than many casual landlords are used to.

And that brings us back to the Information Sheet.

What landlords need to do now

If you already have a tenant on a signed written tenancy agreement, here is the practical version:

1. Use the official government PDF

Do not rewrite it.

Do not screenshot it.

Do not send your own summary.

Use the exact Information Sheet published by GOV.UK. 

2. Send the actual PDF

Best practice is to send the document itself, not just a website link.

If there is ever a dispute later, you want to be able to show exactly what was provided and when.

3. Keep a clear record

Save:

• the email
• the PDF attachment
• the date it was sent
• and who it was sent to

Good admin is not glamorous, but it is often what saves landlords later.

4. Send it to every named tenant

If there are multiple named tenants on the tenancy agreement, each named tenant should receive the information. GOV.UK guidance on tenancy information makes clear that written tenancy information should cover all parties involved. 

 

What happens if landlords ignore it?

This is where the “I’ll sort it later” approach can become expensive.

Government guidance confirms that landlords who fail to comply with the written information requirements can face a civil penalty, and current published guidance around the Information Sheet references penalties of up to £7,000 in relevant cases. 

That is a steep price for something that is, in reality, very manageable if done properly and on time.

Why self-managing landlords are most at risk

To be clear — this is not about bad landlords.

A lot of self-managing landlords are perfectly decent people who simply:

• have old tenancy paperwork
• rely on templates from years ago
• are not watching every legal update
• and assume they will “deal with it later”

That is understandable.

But the private rented sector is changing quickly, and this is exactly the sort of detail that tends to cause problems after something has already gone wrong.

Usually when it is more stressful, more expensive, and more difficult to fix.

Our view at My House

This is one of those moments where landlords do not need panic.

But they do need clarity.

The right approach is not to rush and do it badly.

It is to check:

whether you have a valid written tenancy

• whether the tenancy is properly documented
• whether the right people have been served
• and whether your current setup would actually stand up if challenged

That is a much better position to be in than scrambling later.

Need help checking your tenancy paperwork?

If you are a landlord and you are not sure:

whether this applies to your tenancy

• whether your paperwork is in the right format
• or what the new rules mean for your property

get in touch with My House.

We can help you understand what actually matters, what needs updating, and what to do next — clearly and without the legal fog.

Need advice?

Contact My House today for straightforward landlord guidance. Email is office@myhouseagency.co.uk

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