The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet: who must give it, by when, and how

Which tenancies

Every assured tenancy of a dwelling in England. Tenancies that already had a written agreement on 1 May 2026 needed the Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. Tenancies that were wholly oral on that date needed a full Written Statement of Terms by the same date instead. New tenancies from 1 May 2026 get the Written Statement before the tenancy is entered into, and the Information Sheet is given with it.

The only valid form

The sheet is the exact document published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK's own guidance says a landlord may give it as a printed copy or as the PDF attached to an email or message — and that sending a hyperlink to the page, or to a hosted copy, is not valid service. Do not retype it, summarise it, or link to it.

If the tenant asks for it in an alternative format (large print, another language), GOV.UK publishes those versions and the landlord has 28 days to provide one.

What it costs to miss

A civil penalty of up to £7,000 for a first breach and up to £40,000 for a further breach within five years, imposed by the local housing authority under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Investigatory powers have been in force since 27 December 2025; the penalty regime since 1 May 2026.

Proving you gave it

The duty is discharged by giving the document, and the landlord has to be able to show that. Keep a dated record of the send: the email with the PDF attached, the recipient, the date and time, and ideally the SHA-256 of the file that went. A printed copy handed over should be recorded with the date and, if possible, a signature or witness.