Renter’s Rights Act 2025 – Urgent action required by landlords

On 1 May 2026, all Assured Shorthold Tenancies were replaced by Assured Periodic Tenancies. Any new and existing tenancies granted to individuals are periodic with no end date, even if they purport to grant a fixed term.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has implemented a variety of other changes which govern the relationship between landlords and tenants. For a summary of the main changes, please see the previous blog Rosie McCormick Paice published.

Many of these changes are summarised in the Renter’s Rights Act Information Sheet.  For a more detailed breakdown of the Information sheet and Landlord’s requirements in relation to this, please see Rosie McCormick Paice’s recent blog. A key requirement is the need for landlords to serve an information sheet on their tenants by 31 May 2026. Failure to do so could result in a £7,000 penalty.

In short, Landlords must provide a copy of the exact PDF from the Government’s website to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement and serve the information sheet by either:

1. printing a hard copy and posting this to the tenants or delivering it by hand; or
2. sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example, to an email or text message.

Emailing or texting tenants with a link to the PDF will not amount to valid service of the information sheet.

The information sheet must be served on the tenants if the tenancy:

1. is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy;
2. was created before 1 May 2026; and

• has a wholly or partly written record of terms (including a tenancy agreement).

Requirements for tenancies created orally before 1 May 2026:

Where a tenancy was created entirely by verbal agreement before 1 May 2026, the information sheet must not be used. Instead, landlords must provide the tenant with a written statement of the key terms of the tenancy by 31 May 2026.

The written information must include the following:

1. The name of the landlord(s) and their postal address.
2. The name of the tenant(s).
3. The address of the property being tenanted.
4. The tenancy start date.
5. The rent amount payable and when payment is due.
6. A statement confirming that if a new proposal to increase rent is made, a notice will be served on the tenant in line with Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988.
7. If the rent includes bills, which bills are covered.
8. The amount of the tenancy deposit.
9. The minimum amount of notice the tenant must provide to end the tenancy (which must not exceed 2 months).
10. Regarding the landlord ending the tenancy, the landlord must be explained that:
    1. In most circumstances, the tenancy can only be ended by obtaining an order for possession and the execution of that order; and
    2. If the landlord tries to get an order for possession: (1) they will usually need to serve a possession notice; (2) they will use the correct form and specify the ground(s) being relied on; and (3) the minimum notice period provided to the tenant before beginning court proceeding will depend on the ground(s) being used.
11. In order for landlords to use some of the possession grounds, they must have told the tenant in writing at the start of the tenancy that they may use them.
12. Landlord(s) must confirm their obligations and explain various legislative requirements, including those which emerge as per:
    1. Section 9A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985;
    2. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (where applicable);
    3. Regulation 3 of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020;
    4. Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998; and
    5. Section 190 of the Equality Act 2010.
13. Landlord(s) must explain that the tenant(s) can keep a pet at the property; and
14. If the tenancy is being provided for the purpose of supported accommodation, the landlord must explain that the tenancy has been granted for this purpose and why the tenant’s occupation meets the definition of supported accommodation.

For a more detailed breakdown of the above requirements, please see the Government’s official advice sheet as taken from their Assured Periodic Tenancies guide for landlords.

What should landlords do now?

To reduce risk and ensure compliance under the new regime, landlords should:

• Review all existing tenancies to confirm whether the Renters’ Rights Act Information sheet must be served.
• Download and serve the official government PDF to every named tenant by 31 May 2026.
• Identify any pre-1 May 2026 oral tenancies and prepare a compliant written statement of terms.
• Seek early legal advice where possession may be required or where compliance is uncertain.

If you would like to discuss any of the matters detailed in this blog in further detail, please contact Carlos Sharrock, Rosie McCormick Paice or any other member of the Residential Property team.