Is your Buy-to-Let ready for 1 May?

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA) is becoming operative from 1 May 2026. Landlords across the country are facing the most significant regulatory overhaul in a generation.

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To facilitate this transition, the Government has released the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. This is not just a helpful guide; it is a mandatory legal requirement with strict deadlines and heavy financial penalties for non-compliance.

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The Information Sheet can be downloaded from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-renters-rights-act-information-sheet-2026

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Who should issue the Information Sheet?

You will need to issue the Information Sheet if you are a landlord or a letting agent and the tenancy meets the following criteria:

• It is an Assured or Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST);
• It was created before 1 May 2026.; and
• There is a written record of terms (i.e., a formal tenancy agreement).

If you use a letting agent, the law requires the agent to provide the Information Sheet to the tenant, even if you have already done so yourself. Dual compliance is the safest route to avoid disputes.

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Service can be by hand, post or electronic means if the tenancy agreement permits.

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An additional notice will be required to be served by 31 May 2026 if you let to full time students in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and will require possession at the end of an academic year ending between 1 June and 30 September.

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What should the Information Sheet cover?

The Information Sheet is designed to brief tenants on their new rights and your new obligations. Key areas covered include:

• The End of Fixed Terms: The abolition of ASTs and the transition to a single system of assured periodic tenancies (APT).
• Rent Reviews: New, standardised mechanisms for how and when rent can be increased.
• Possession Reform: Updated grounds for seeking possession (including specific provisions for student accommodation).
• Tenant Notice: How tenants can end a tenancy at any point upon a minimum of two months' notice.
• The "Right to a Pet": New procedures regarding tenants' requests to keep pets in the property.

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Why You Can’t Wait – the £7,000 Penalty

The window for compliance is narrow. Landlords must ensure their tenants have received the Information Sheet between 1 and 31 May 2026.

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The consequences of an administrative slip-up are severe. Failure to provide the document within the timeframe could result in a civil penalty of up to £7,000. Beyond the fine, non-compliance may complicate future possession proceedings or lead to strained tenant relationships.

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Further Information

For further information on property law generally or relating to shared ownership and new build properties, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Bill Dhariwal on DDI: 01489 864 117 or E: bill.dhariwal@lawcomm.co.uk

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‍_{The content of this article does not constitute legal advice. Law applicable as at date of publication.}