The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 is the government's plain-English summary of a tenant's rights under the new system. It is the direct replacement for the How to Rent guide, which was withdrawn when the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026. Serving it correctly is a legal duty, not a courtesy - get it wrong and your ability to seek possession can be affected, and you can face a financial penalty. Last reviewed: 30 May 2026.
What the Information Sheet 2026 is
The Information Sheet 2026 is a short official document, published by the government, that explains to tenants how the new tenancy system works: that assured shorthold tenancies have become assured periodic tenancies, that no-fault possession under Section 21 has been abolished, the rules around rent, deposits, repairs and where to get help. It is written for tenants, in plain language, and updated by the government as the law settles.
It does the same job the How to Rent guide used to do - making sure a tenant starts a tenancy understanding their basic rights - but it reflects the post-1-May-2026 legal position rather than the old one.
It replaces the withdrawn How to Rent guide
The How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England guide has been withdrawn. You should no longer serve it for new or continuing tenancies under the new system. The only narrow exception is a tenancy where a valid Section 21 notice was already served before 1 May 2026 and is still being relied on - those legacy cases continue under the old rules until they conclude.
For everything else, the Information Sheet 2026 is the document to serve. If you are still handing tenants the old How to Rent guide, stop and switch to the current Information Sheet. Always take it from the government's own page rather than a cached or third-party copy, because the content is revised from time to time and only the current official version discharges your duty. You can find the official document via the gov.uk Renters’ Rights Act collection; check the publication date on the page each time, and if you are unsure which version is current, follow the current gov.uk guidance on renting out a property.
Who must be served, and by when
There are two groups to think about: tenants who already live in your property, and tenants you take on from now.
| Tenant | What you must do | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Existing tenants (already in occupation on 1 May 2026) | Serve the current Information Sheet 2026 | By 31 May 2026 |
| New tenants (tenancy starts on or after 1 May 2026) | Serve the current Information Sheet 2026 | At the start of the tenancy |
For existing tenancies, the duty is one-off and time-limited: existing tenants must be given the Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. For anyone you take on after that, serve it at the outset of the tenancy as part of your move-in paperwork, alongside the gas safety certificate, EPC and deposit prescribed information.
Because the law and the document are both new, treat the deadlines and the precise scope as live - confirm against current gov.uk guidance for landlords before you rely on them, especially if your situation is unusual.
You must serve the actual PDF - a link is not valid
This is the point most often missed. To discharge the duty you must serve the actual government document - the PDF itself - not a hyperlink to it. Sending a tenant a web address and asking them to find and download it does not count as serving the Information Sheet.
What this means in practice:
- By email - attach the PDF to the email. Do not just paste a gov.uk link in the body. (Email may only be valid where your tenancy terms allow electronic service and the tenant has agreed to it - check this before relying on email.)
- On paper - print the current PDF and hand or post a physical copy.
- Always the current version - download a fresh copy from gov.uk each time you serve, so you are giving the version that is current on that date.
The reasoning is simple: a link can break, change, or point to an outdated version, and there is no record of what the tenant actually received. Serving the document itself removes that ambiguity - the tenant has the exact thing the law requires, and you have a copy of exactly what you sent.
The penalty for failing to serve it
Two consequences follow from getting this wrong.
A financial penalty. Failing to serve the Information Sheet 2026 when required can carry a civil penalty of up to £7,000. As with other tenancy paperwork breaches, this is an enforcement matter, so the safest position is simply to serve correctly and keep proof.
Possession problems. Under the old system, failing to provide How to Rent could block a Section 21 notice. Section 21 has now been abolished, so possession runs through Section 8 grounds instead. Even so, your tenancy documentation being complete and correct matters for any possession claim and for staying on the right side of the local authority. Where a figure, deadline or penalty level matters to a decision you are about to make, check the current gov.uk guidance rather than relying on a number from memory, because penalties and details in this area are still bedding in.
How to serve it - and prove you did
Serving the document is only half the job. If a dispute or an enforcement question ever arises, the burden is on you to show that you served the correct version on time. Build the proof in at the point of serving.
Serving by email
- Only serve electronically if the tenant has agreed to receive documents by email. If they have not, serve on paper.
- Attach the PDF itself to the email - not a link.
- Use a subject line that names the document and the date, for example "Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 - served [date]".
- Keep the sent email, with the attachment, in a dedicated tenancy folder. That email is your timestamped evidence.
Serving on paper
- Print the current PDF and hand it over in person, or post it.
- Ask the tenant to sign and date a short acknowledgement that they received it - one line is enough ("I confirm I received the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 on [date]").
- If you post it, a free or low-cost record-of-posting receipt from the Post Office gives you a dated proof of sending.
Whichever method you use
- Save a copy of the exact version you served. Because the document is updated periodically, keep the actual PDF you sent (not just a note that you sent "the guide"), so you can show which version the tenant got.
- Record the date. A simple log - tenant, property, document version date, served date, method - is enough.
- Repeat at renewal where appropriate. If you start a new tenancy or the official document is updated, serve the current version again and log it.
None of this is onerous. Treat the Information Sheet exactly as you already treat the gas safety certificate, EPC and deposit prescribed information: a document to serve at move-in, with the proof filed alongside it.
Where this fits in the wider compliance picture
The Information Sheet is one item on a longer move-in checklist that also covers your Right to Rent check, the gas safety certificate, the EICR, the EPC, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and protecting the deposit with the prescribed information served within the required time. Missing any one of them can cause problems later, so it is worth working from a single checklist each time you let.
If you manage your own lettings, Domovita lets you list your rental yourself and keep all of this paperwork in one place - or bring in a local letting agent if you would rather someone else handled it. Either way, the Information Sheet duty is yours as the landlord, so build it into your standard move-in routine and keep the proof.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Letting rules differ across the UK and continue to change, so always check the current gov.uk guidance for your situation before you act.
Frequently asked questions
Is the How to Rent guide still valid in 2026?
No. The How to Rent guide was withdrawn when the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, and the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 replaces it. The only exception is a tenancy still relying on a valid Section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026, which continues under the old rules. For everything else, serve the Information Sheet.
Can I just send my tenant a link to the Information Sheet?
No. You must serve the actual government PDF, not a link to it. A hyperlink does not discharge the duty because it can break, change or point to an outdated version. Attach the PDF to an email (only where your tenancy allows electronic service) or hand or post a printed copy, and always use the current version from gov.uk.
By when must I serve existing tenants?
Existing tenants - those already living in the property on 1 May 2026 - must be given the current Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026. For any tenant you take on after that, serve it at the start of the tenancy. Because the rules are new, confirm the deadline against current gov.uk guidance if your situation is unusual.
What happens if I do not serve it?
Failing to serve the Information Sheet when required can carry a civil penalty of up to £7,000, and incomplete tenancy paperwork can cause problems in any later possession claim. Penalty levels and details are still settling in, so check the current gov.uk guidance before relying on a specific figure - and simply serve correctly to avoid the issue.
How do I prove I served the Information Sheet?
Keep evidence at the point of serving. By email, save the sent message with the PDF attached. On paper, ask the tenant to sign a short dated acknowledgement, or keep a record-of-posting receipt. Always save a copy of the exact version you served and log the date and method, because the document is updated periodically.
Do I have to serve it again at renewal?
Serve the current version at the start of every new tenancy. During a continuing tenancy you generally do not need to re-serve each year, but if the official document is updated it is good practice to serve the current version again and log it. When in doubt, check the latest gov.uk guidance, as requirements in this area are still evolving.
Related guides
- The Renters' Rights Act 2026: what private landlords need to do
- UK Lettings Compliance - the Landlord Checklist
- A Landlord's Guide to UK Lettings (2026)
- List your rental on Domovita - free for private landlords
General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. Always check the current position on the official gov.uk pages linked above, and take professional advice - a solicitor, or your local council for licensing questions - before relying on it for a specific decision.