Government reveals what must be included in Renters’ Rights Act tenancy agreements
3 months ago | 11 comments
Government publishes Renters’ Rights Act information sheet with £7,000 fine warning
10:05 AM, 20th March 2026, 1 month ago
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The government has published an information sheet on the Renters’ Rights Act, warning landlords that they could face a £7,000 fine if they fail to provide it to tenants by 31 May 2026.
The document outlines key changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act, including the abolition of fixed-term tenancies and rules on rent increases.
The government explain a copy of the information sheet must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.
£7,000 fine for failing to provide information sheet
According to the government, if a landlord uses a letting agent to manage the property, the agent is responsible for providing the information sheet to the tenant, even if the landlord has already done so.
Landlords are required to issue the information sheet where the tenancy:
- is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy
- was created before 1 May 2026
- has a wholly or partly written record of terms (including a written tenancy agreement)
Landlords must provide the information sheet either by printing a hard copy (posted or given to tenants by hand) or by sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example via email or text message. The government warns that emailing or texting a link to the PDF is not valid.
The government has also confirmed that landlords are not required to change or reissue any existing written tenancy agreement.
If landlords do not provide the information sheet to tenants before 31 May 2026, they could face fines of up to £7,000.
The information sheet can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.
Information for student landlords
The government say that student landlords have until 31 May to formally write to their tenants to end the tenancy using Ground 4A of the new Renters’ Rights Act.
The government explain that, from 1 May 2026 to 30 July 2026, landlords can then give tenants two months’ notice to end the tenancy using Ground 4A.
After 30 July 2026, landlords will need to give at least four months’ notice.
Industry reaction to information sheet
The government say whilst tenants don’t have to do anything, they should read the information carefully.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act is a major step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords, giving us greater security in our homes.
“Ahead of the new law coming into action, it’s vital renters take the time to understand what these new rights are and how to respond if landlords break the rules.”
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NLRA), said: “We welcome publication of the material needed to ensure landlords are fully prepared for the Renters’ Rights Act. It will provide vital assurance and clarity about what they need to do next.
“With just six weeks to go until the biggest changes to the rental sector in a generation, it is important that landlords work with their tenants now to ensure a seamless change to the new systems coming into force from 1st May.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: “As we approach the implementation of the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act this May, it is essential that all elements of the new legislation are communicated clearly, consistently, and at the appropriate time between letting agents, landlords, and tenants, in line with UK government expectations.
“With the publication of the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, letting agents across England will be required to ensure that all tenants named on a tenancy agreement receive this information, regardless of whether the landlord has provided it. Failure to provide each tenant with the Information Sheet by 31 May 2026 could result in fines of up to £7,000.
“The Information Sheet must be provided either as a physical hard copy or electronically, such as via email. It is important to note that simply sharing a web link to the information sheet will not meet the required communication standards.
“Letting agents should also maintain comprehensive records of all communications to support any potential complaints or future audit requirements.”
Tags:
landlord fines, Renters' RIghts Act document, Renters' Rights Act information sheet, Renters’ Rights Act
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Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 4
12:20 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by David at 22/03/2026 – 11:21
it has been challenged many times over the recent past. This is now law – sadly we do not have a choice. Break the law – face the possibility of a totally disproportionate fine. Sadly no fines for tenants who think the terms of their tenancy are optional.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 4
12:22 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Robin Wilson at 21/03/2026 – 10:07well said. Law invented and passed by those who think that all private landlords are the devils work.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 4
12:26 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 22/03/2026 – 12:17
when you say oppose it what exactly do you mean? This is the law of the land – however flawed it may be – it is not a parking fine!
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 766
1:37 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 22/03/2026 – 12:17
Landlords will vote with their feet. I am selling up
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
3:26 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 22/03/2026 – 13:37
Me too in a few years …if I’m not bankrupt by then !
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 374
10:45 PM, 22nd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by keith towers at 22/03/2026 – 12:20
Challenged how? The government proposes a law, it goes to the Lords and a few feeble comments are made.Pathetic really. Now a challenge is when the people go the streets but that never happens, except in Iran.
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 71
12:14 PM, 23rd March 2026, About 1 month ago
Wow – Imagine if just for once the tenant had an equal responsibility and the government said ‘Hey Tenants and Landlords we have amended all your tenancies, you can find details here’. If only Carlesburg did governments!!
Member Since September 2019 - Comments: 251
3:28 PM, 25th March 2026, About 1 month ago
I just mentioned this on another site and saw similar here. I did think that P118 was going to go away from the sensationist headlines, but oh well.
In the real world, no-one is getting a £7,000 fine for not providing the documentation.
Technically speaking, and I am really saying technically speaking here because it’s not going to happen, but you *could* be fined £7,000 for your first breach. however no-one will be fined that amount. If there is a fine then it would be worked out against a number of factors.
Is this the first breach? How many breaches have there been? Are there other breaches that go along with it? Are there aggravating or mitigating circumstances? Does the landlord accept responsibility for the breach straight away? How much harm has occurred to the aggrieved party? Would the fine amount actually be a financial penalty? Was there any risk to the aggrieved party?.. and this goes on.
o give another example of why you should not worry. Right now, if you are caught speeding doing 21MPH in a 20 area, you could technically be fined £2,500. That’s what the law says. Can you find anyone that has been fined that amount for speeding? It’s the same here. If you do have a minor breach on this one factor then there is not a chance that you would be fined £7k.
Until something like that actually happens, you all need to stop panicking.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3249 - Articles: 81
3:46 PM, 25th March 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by The Forever Tenant at 25/03/2026 – 15:28
Hope u right. U could be right.
But are we to know now? Or in 10 years when we can’t prove something?
To even bring that in to Housing Providers who a lot of us don’t even want our houses is an absolute shock. Even £1 fine would be too much. We don’t deserve it.
Govt just aren’t getting this, they think Ooh Greedy Landlords out to make money, we’ll say something to please the renters. We don’t even want the ruddy houses. We better off financially & time wise without the houses. They creating a sxxt storm for tenants. Give us an hour on BBC1 & we’ll educate the renters. All my tenants know the harm the Councils & Govt are doing.
Member Since August 2019 - Comments: 25
6:26 PM, 29th March 2026, About 4 weeks ago
Apologies if these queries have been answered elsewhere.
Recently, Goodlord hosted a webinar for Letting Agents during which they told them
1 Re pets- if you as a Landlord have an allergy to the animal in question, it will not be a valid reason to refuse the pet. This seems at odds with the Government advice issued November 2025 in readiness for 1st May re pet requests, stating allergies of fellow tenants may be a valid reason to refuse. Also sometimes tradesmen won’t attend if an animal is present so is that a valid reason?
2 They also said the Renters’ Rights Information Sheet if sent as a paper copy, should be in colour as it is set out on the website.
So imagine Mr and Mrs Smith in one house. She is happy to have the document by email – no problem. Mr has no background in computers and wants a paper copy.
I suppose I could not ask if she could print it out for him ( in colour ) and for them both to acknowledge receipt or would that be too much like commonsense?
Meanwhile next door, Mr and Mrs Jones are both happy to have theirs on email. I am assuming I need to send it to their respective email addresses i.e two separate emails each with a booklet attached. But what if they only have one email address between them – do we do as the banks do and send the same email and its contents twice, marking them for the attention of each party and each signs to say he/she has received it?
It’s getting silly now!