The RRA Information Sheet Deadline Is 31 May: Here's What to Send

Yesterday, Section 21 was abolished. Today, the clock is ticking on the next deadline. You have 29 days to send every one of your tenants a single document: the government's official RRA Information Sheet. It replaces the old "How to Rent" guide. And unlike the How to Rent guide, which was mainly a nuisance if you forgot it, this one has real teeth.

Miss the deadline, and you cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice until you have provided it. That means you lose the ability to start possession proceedings. On top of that, local authorities can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for non-compliance. Not a theoretical risk. A real one.

Here is exactly what you need to do.

What is the RRA Information Sheet?

The RRA Information Sheet is a standardised government document that tells tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Think of it as the successor to the "How to Rent" booklet, but shorter, simpler, and legally mandatory in a way the old guide never quite was.

It covers:

• The tenant's right to a periodic tenancy (no more Section 21)
• How rent increases work under Section 13
• The tenant's right to request a pet
• Landlord obligations around repairs and maintenance
• How the tenant can end the tenancy (two months' notice)
• The new grounds for possession under Section 8
• Where to get help (including the new Ombudsman)

The sheet is published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). You must provide the current version as published on GOV.UK. You cannot modify it, summarise it, or substitute your own version.

Download it now: GOV.UK: The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 | Direct PDF download

Who needs to receive it?

Every tenant in an assured tenancy in England. That includes:

• All existing assured shorthold tenants (the vast majority of private renters)
• Tenants who started their tenancy before 1 May 2026
• Tenants on rolling periodic tenancies
• Joint tenants (each named tenant should receive it, though providing one copy to the tenancy address is usually sufficient)

For new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, you must provide the sheet before the tenancy begins or at the point of granting the tenancy. For existing tenancies, the deadline is 31 May 2026.

How to send it

The Act does not prescribe a specific method of delivery, but you need to be able to prove you provided it. Practically, that means:

Option 1: Email (recommended)

Email a PDF of the information sheet to each tenant. This gives you a timestamped record of delivery. If the tenant has an email address you have used for tenancy correspondence, use that. Keep the sent email.

Option 2: Post

First-class post to the tenancy address. Service is deemed the next working day. Keep a copy of the letter and note the date you posted it. For extra security, use recorded delivery, though it is not required.

Option 3: Hand delivery

Deliver it in person. Get a signed acknowledgment. This is the most reliable proof of service, but the least practical for landlords with multiple properties.

Generate and send your RRA Information Sheet in 60 seconds

LandlordOS generates the correct sheet for each tenancy and emails it directly to your tenant with proof of delivery.

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What if you have already sent the How to Rent guide?

It does not count. The How to Rent guide is not the same document as the RRA Information Sheet. Even if you sent the How to Rent guide last month, you still need to provide the new sheet by 31 May.

The old How to Rent guide is now defunct. It has no legal status from 1 May 2026 onwards. Do not rely on it.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Two consequences:

1. You cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice. This is the big one. The Renters' Rights Act makes provision of the information sheet a prerequisite for serving notice. If you have not provided it, any Section 8 notice you serve is invalid. The tenant can challenge it, and the court will throw it out. You would need to provide the sheet, wait, and then serve a fresh notice.
2. Civil penalty up to £7,000. Local authorities have the power to issue fines for non-compliance with the information sheet requirement. This is a civil penalty, not a criminal offence, but £7,000 is a meaningful number.

The practical risk is the first one. If you ever need to regain possession of your property, a missing information sheet will block the entire process. It is the kind of paperwork oversight that costs months.

A checklist for the next 29 days

1. Download the latest version of the RRA Information Sheet from GOV.UK. Make sure it is the current version (dated May 2026 or later).
2. List every property and every tenant. If you use LandlordOS, this is already done. If not, go through your tenancy agreements.
3. Send the sheet to each tenant by email or post. Email is easiest. Attach the PDF. Keep the sent email as proof.
4. Record the date of service for each tenant. You will need this if you ever need to serve a Section 8 notice.
5. For new tenancies from today, include the sheet in your onboarding pack. Do not sign a new tenancy without providing it first.

That is it. Five steps. Twenty minutes if you have a handful of properties. An hour if you have a larger portfolio. There is no reason to miss this deadline.

Why this matters more than the How to Rent guide ever did

The How to Rent guide was technically a requirement, but in practice, forgetting it rarely had serious consequences beyond a failed Section 21 attempt (and even then, you could serve it late and try again). The RRA Information Sheet is different because Section 21 no longer exists. Section 8 is the only route to possession. If the information sheet blocks Section 8, you have no route at all.

For a self-managing landlord, this is the kind of administrative detail that separates smooth operations from expensive legal delays. Thirty days. One document. Send it.