Reminder For Landlords To Send The New Information Sheet Before 31 May

A Simple Reminder Before 31 May

If you have an assured or assured shorthold tenancy created before 1 May 2026 with written terms, GOV.UK says the tenant must receive the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026.

The deadline is 31 May 2026. GOV.UK says missing it can expose the landlord to a fine of up to £7,000, so this is worth treating as a simple end-of-month compliance check rather than something to come back to later.

If You Still Call It How To Rent

Many landlords and agents still refer to this as the old How to Rent task. That is understandable, but the current document is different. Since 1 May 2026, the practical reminder is to send the new government Information Sheet to the relevant tenants and keep a record of service.

Who Should Check This Now

This reminder is mainly for landlords and agents with pre-1 May 2026 assured or assured shorthold tenancies that already have a written agreement or other written record of terms. In those cases, the Information Sheet needs to go to every named tenant.

GOV.UK says this sheet is not for lodgers. Where the older tenancy was fully verbal, the guidance points toward written key tenancy information instead.

Do Not Just Send A Link

The sending rules are narrower than some landlords expect. GOV.UK says the Information Sheet is only valid when downloaded from the official publication page, and landlords must give the exact PDF from that page.

The permitted routes are straightforward: print and post it, hand-deliver a hard copy, or send the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example by email or text message. GOV.UK expressly says that emailing or texting a link to the PDF is not valid.

Why This Reminder Matters

This is a small admin task, but it is easy for it to be missed because landlord and agent teams assume someone else has done it. It is also easy to send the wrong thing, especially if an older checklist still says How to Rent.

GOV.UK also says that where an agent manages the property, the agent must provide the Information Sheet even if the landlord has also done so. That makes clear handoff and record keeping important.

Quick Landlord Checklist

For most landlords, the useful next step is a quick file check this week rather than a long policy review.

What To Check Before Month End

• identify pre-1 May 2026 assured or assured shorthold tenancies with written terms
• download the official Information Sheet PDF from GOV.UK rather than reusing an old file copy of uncertain origin
• send the PDF as an attachment or provide a printed copy, not just a link
• make sure every named tenant receives it
• record when it was sent, by whom, and by what method
• check that landlord and agent responsibilities are not being assumed but left undocumented

Our View

This works best as a reminder piece because the action itself is simple. Check which tenancies are in scope, send the exact PDF properly, and keep proof on file before 31 May 2026.

If a landlord team still uses “How to Rent” as the label internally, that is fine as shorthand, but the actual document and service method now need to match the current GOV.UK rule.

This article is for general information only and reflects sources reviewed in May 2026. It is not legal advice.