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Only 153,000 Downloads of Renters’ Rights Act Info Sheet with 9 Days Left

A Freedom of Information response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has revealed that the government’s mandatory Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet was downloaded just 153,000 times in the first four weeks after publication. The deadline for landlords and letting agents to serve this document on every named tenant is 31 May 2026, now just nine days away.

The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026 require landlords to provide the official Information Sheet to every tenant named on an existing written or partly written tenancy agreement entered into before 1 May 2026. This includes standard Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs). Letting agents are also required to provide the Information Sheet, but this does not replace the landlord’s own obligation; both parties must comply separately.

For tenancies based entirely on a verbal agreement made before 1 May 2026, landlords must instead provide a Written Statement of Terms by the same deadline. The Information Sheet requirement does not apply to these verbal agreements.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to serve the Information Sheet can result in a civil penalty of up to £7,000 per tenancy, with MHCLG guidance setting a starting point at £4,000. Local authorities may adjust penalties based on severity, compliance history, and whether the landlord gained financially from the failure. If the breach continues for more than 28 days after a penalty is issued, further civil penalties of up to £40,000 may apply, or criminal prosecution may be pursued. For landlords with multiple properties, liabilities can accumulate across tenancies.

MHCLG guidance states that councils are not expected to issue informal warnings before taking formal action. Non-compliance can also affect possession proceedings, as courts may consider statutory breaches when reviewing cases. If a landlord fails to remedy the breach within 28 days of a civil penalty, tenants or local authorities can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to two years’ rent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The government guidance specifies that the exact PDF Information Sheet must be attached or physically given to each tenant; sending a link to the GOV.UK page does not meet the requirement. Every tenant named on the agreement must receive their own copy, and using an altered version of the Information Sheet is not valid. Landlords should also confirm in writing that their agent has served the Information Sheet, as the obligation is separate for each party.