For any residential tenancies you hold that began before 1 May 2026 and have a written agreement, this specific document must be provided to every named tenant by 31 May 2026. Failure to comply can result in a local authority fine of up to £7,000.
You must make sure your residential letting agents handle this correctly. Under the new statutory guidance, if an agent manages a property for you, that agent is legally required to provide the sheet to the tenant. This rule applies even if you have already sent a copy yourself.
Please ensure your agents follow these strict rules for service:
They must send the exact PDF downloaded directly from the government website. The document must not be altered with agency branding in any way. They cannot simply email or text a link to the webpage to the tenant. The document must be attached as a full PDF file or provided as a printed physical copy.
Evidencing Service
It is absolutely critical that your agents retain concrete evidence that this document was served. Please be aware that serving this document by email is only legally valid if the tenant’s specific lease agreement explicitly states that they accept service of legal notices by email. If the lease does not say this, email must not be used.
If email is not permitted, please ensure your agents use one of the following methods to prove service:
Certificate of Posting: Sending the printed document by first class post and obtaining a free, date stamped certificate of posting from the Post Office. Hand Delivery: Hand delivering the document through the letterbox of the property before 5:00 PM, ideally taking a date stamped photograph of the envelope going through the door, and keeping a formal file note. Signed Receipt: Handing the document to the tenant directly and asking them to sign and date a duplicate copy to confirm receipt.
You can access the official page and download the PDF to pass on to your agents using the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-renters-rights-act-information-sheet-2026.
How Expert Landlord Solicitors Can Help You: Navigating the constant changes to housing law can be overwhelming. If you are worried about your paperwork, historic compliance, or need legal support regaining possession of your property, we are here to help.
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If you need to get your property legally back on track, send us a direct message on here, or email: tina@expertlandlordsolicitors.co.uk
