Your Tenancy Agreement Just Became Obsolete: What the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 Means for Landlords

From 1 May 2026, several core clauses in a standard tenancy agreement will no longer have legal effect. Fixed terms, rent review clauses, Section 21 notice provisions, and even the name "Assured Shorthold Tenancy" are all being simultaneously overridden by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

On 20 March 2026, the government published the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 - a 4-page document that landlords and letting agents are legally required to give to every existing tenant. It explains, in the government's own words, that much of what your current tenancy agreement says is no longer enforceable. Fail to deliver it by 31 May 2026, and you face a civil penalty of up to £7,000. The challenge for landlords is not just delivering the document - it is proving that each tenant actually received it.

This guide explains what has changed, what you must do, and how to get compliant quickly.

5 clauses in your tenancy agreement that no longer apply

Here are five provisions commonly found in tenancy agreements that will be overridden by law on 1 May 2026. Even if your agreement still contains this wording, these clauses will have no legal effect.

"The new rules apply to your tenancy automatically, even if your landlord does not update your tenancy agreement." - The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 (GOV.UK)

What is the Information Sheet and who must give it?

The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 is a standard 4-page document published by the government on 20 March 2026. It explains to tenants how their existing tenancy is affected by the changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

The legal basis for the Information Sheet is Schedule 6, Paragraph 7 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Who must serve it?

• Every landlord (or their letting agent) with an existing assured or assured shorthold tenancy created before 1 May 2026
• The tenancy must have a wholly or partly written record of terms (including a written tenancy agreement)
• A copy must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement
• If you use a letting agent, the agent must also provide it - even if you have already given it to the tenant yourself
• Lodgers are exempt

The deadline and penalty

The Information Sheet must be served by 31 May 2026. The government guidance on civil penalties states that the starting point for a first breach is £4,000, and the maximum penalty is up to £7,000. If the breach continues for more than 28 days after the penalty is imposed, it becomes a criminal offence.

Important: the exact PDF must be used

The document is only valid as the exact PDF downloaded from the GOV.UK page. You must not amend, rewrite, or reformat it. At Lendlord, we've already added the official Information Sheet directly into our tenant documents section, so our users can access and manage it alongside their tenancy agreements.

Download the official Information Sheet published by the government on 20 March 2026. This is the exact document you are required to give to your tenants.

Download the Information Sheet (PDF)

How should I serve the Information Sheet to my tenants?

The government guidance states that landlords and agents can serve the Information Sheet by:

• Printing a hard copy and posting it or handing it to the tenant
• Sending the PDF electronically as an attachment - for example, as an email or text message attachment

That said, there are traps that can catch landlords out.

Serving it through Lendlord - with in-app acknowledgment and e-signature

Streamline compliance with Lendlord's In-App Acknowledgment: share the Information Sheet, require tenant confirmation, and track delivery status - all from a single dashboard.

Track Your Information Sheet Delivery - Sign Up Free

The challenge is clear: the government says you can email the PDF, but the burden of proving that your tenant actually received and read it falls entirely on you. Without a deemed service clause in your tenancy agreement, a tenant could simply claim they never received the document, leaving you unable to prove compliance.

Lendlord provides two features designed to establish undeniable proof of service: In-App Acknowledgment for tracked digital delivery, and E-Signature for formal signed confirmation.

The In-App Acknowledgment feature works through a 3-step workflow built directly into the Tenant's Documents panel:

Step 1: Share the Information Sheet with your tenant

From the Tenant's Documents panel, use the "Share with tenant" option to send the official Information Sheet PDF directly to each named tenant. No need to email attachments separately or post envelopes. The document is shared through the platform in one click.

Step 2: Require the tenant to read it

A standard email read receipt only confirms an email was opened - not that the attachment was read. Lendlord's "Force tenant to read document" feature goes further: it ensures the tenant must actually open the Information Sheet itself before it is marked as reviewed. This provides much stronger proof than a standard email read receipt, because the system confirms the tenant engaged with the actual document, not just the message it was attached to.

Step 3: Track delivery status in real time

Each document shows a live status badge. "Waiting for Review" means the Information Sheet has been shared but the tenant has not yet opened it. Once the tenant reads the document, the status updates automatically - giving you a timestamped, verifiable record of exactly when they reviewed it.

For portfolio landlords and letting agents managing multiple properties, this is especially valuable. Instead of chasing individual email confirmations or tracking postal receipts, you have a single dashboard showing the delivery and read status of every Information Sheet across your entire portfolio.

For maximum certainty: get it signed electronically

For landlords who want the strongest possible proof of service, Lendlord also offers an E-Signature feature. From the same Tenant's Documents panel, select "Send for Signature" to send the Information Sheet to the tenant for formal electronic signing.

Before sending, the landlord can place fields directly onto the PDF:

• A Text Field - for example, "I acknowledge I have read this document"
• A Signature Field - for the tenant's electronic signature
• A Date Field - recording when the tenant signed

The tenant receives the document, reads it, signs it electronically, and the signed copy is automatically saved back to the platform. This creates a permanent, auditable record: the tenant's name, signature, and date - all on the official Information Sheet itself. For joint tenancies, multiple signers can be added to ensure every named tenant on the agreement signs.

This is as close to hand-delivery-with-signed-acknowledgment as you can get - without the physical presence. An electronic signature is a recognized legal instrument, and the signed PDF is stored permanently on Lendlord for future reference.

Easily send the Information Sheet for electronic signature and maintain a permanent, time-stamped record of acknowledgment stored securely on the platform.

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How this compares to other methods

• Email: The tenant may claim they never received it. Difficult to prove without a deemed service clause.
• Recorded delivery post: Proves that something was posted, but not what was in the envelope. Slow and costly across multiple properties.
• Hand delivery: Requires physical presence and a signed acknowledgement.
• Lendlord: Two levels of proof. In-App Acknowledgment tracks that the tenant opened and read the document. E-Signature gets the tenant to formally sign the Information Sheet itself. Both create timestamped, auditable records stored on the platform.

What if my tenancy is based on a verbal agreement?

If an existing tenancy is based entirely on a verbal agreement with no written terms or tenancy agreement at all, the Information Sheet cannot be given. Instead, the landlord must provide a Written Statement of Terms by 31 May 2026, covering the landlord's name and address, rent amount and payment dates, and deposit details.

However, if the tenancy is even partly in writing, the Information Sheet must be served.

For the vast majority of landlords with a properly completed tenancy agreement - even a basic one - the only action required is serving the Information Sheet.

Do I need to update my existing tenancy agreement?

Strictly speaking, no. The government guidance states: "The legislation does not require you to change or re-issue any existing written tenancy agreement."

However, consider what your current agreement now says versus what the law actually allows:

• It may state a 12-month fixed term - but your tenancy is now periodic
• It may contain a rent review clause - but that clause is no longer enforceable
• It may reference Section 21 notices - but Section 21 has been abolished
• It may prohibit pets - but tenants now have a legal right to request one

A tenancy agreement that contradicts the law creates practical risks. Tenants may misunderstand their rights. Disputes may arise from conflicting information. Outdated clauses could be referenced in court, causing confusion.

For new tenancies entered into on or after 1 May 2026, a compliant agreement is essential - the Act introduces a new Written Statement of Terms requirement. And for existing tenancies, many landlords are proactively updating their agreements to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Replace your outdated tenancy agreement with one that reflects the new rules. Customise clauses online and download a compliant PDF in minutes.

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Create a compliant agreement with Lendlord's free Tenancy Agreement Generator

Whether you're replacing an outdated agreement or setting up a new tenancy from 1 May 2026, Lendlord's Tenancy Agreement Generator creates fully Renters' Rights Act 2025-compliant contracts - for free.

Solicitor-backed compliant templates

The platform provides free templates designed specifically for the new laws. Each template automatically adapts to the Renters' Rights Act 2025 by structuring the contract as a rolling periodic tenancy, removing Section 21 clauses, and applying valid rent increase provisions under the amended Section 13 procedure.

• Assured Tenancy Agreement - rolling periodic, fully compliant with the new rules. No fixed terms, no Section 21, compliant rent increase provisions.
• HMO Tenancy Agreement - includes shared-living clauses covering common areas, utility usage, and mandatory safety regulations.
• Serviced Accommodation Agreement - a licence to occupy for short-term lets, exempt from the Renters' Rights Act framework.

Online customisation and fast generation

All templates are customisable online. Enter your property and tenant details, adjust clauses to suit your exact requirements, and download a legally binding, compliant PDF in minutes - no solicitor fees required.

Centralised compliance management

Lendlord incorporates the official Information Sheet 2026 directly into the tenant documents section, allowing you to generate customised compliant agreements, distribute the mandatory government Information Sheet, track whether tenants have read it, and get it signed electronically - all from a single dashboard.

Create a compliant tenancy agreement, share the Information Sheet with your tenants, and get proof of delivery - all from one platform.

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Landlord action plan: what to do this week

Your existing tenancy agreement is not illegal - but it is no longer telling the full truth about the rights and obligations of either party. The question is whether you address that now, or wait until it causes a problem.