Renters’ Rights Act: Tenant information sheet published

A new information sheet, that must be given to all tenants to inform them of changes coming in under the Renters’ Right Act, has now been published. 

All private landlords with existing assured or assured shorthold tenancies created before 1st May this year – and a written record of the tenancy's terms – must provide the sheet to their tenants by 31st May. 

Failure to do so could land you with a fine of up to £7,000 for a single breach, increasing to up to £40,000 for repeated offences, or if not resolved after 28 days.

Who needs to be sent the sheet?

You must send the sheet to every tenant named in the agreement if the tenancy: 

• is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy that was created before 1st May this year 

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

If you have a letting agent who manages the property on your behalf, then the agent must provide the information sheet to the tenant – and this is important – even if you have also provided it. 

You do not need to serve a copy to lodgers. 

The sheet can be served at any time up to 31st May and has to be downloaded from the Government website here.   

You must also make sure you give your tenants the exact PDF found on the page, by either: 

• Printing a hard copy, which can be posted or given to the tenants by hand.

• Sending the PDF electronically as an attachment, for example, to an email or text message, provided the tenant responds to confirm receipt or you have an appropriate worded clause in your tenancy agreement which allows electronic service.

You must not email or text a link to the PDF to the tenant, as this will not be valid.

Do I need to change or sign a new tenancy agreement?

The legislation does not require you to change or re-issue any existing written tenancy agreement.      

However, if you have a tenancy based entirely on a verbal agreement, that was made before 1st May this year, then you should not use the information sheet and must provide certain written information about key terms of the tenancy instead.  

You can find out more about this from our website here. 

You may also need to provide the sheet if you are a social landlord letting a non-social tenancy.

For new tenants, signing agreements on or after 1st May you will need a new assured periodic tenancy (APT) agreement which is now available to download for free from our website.   

The Government has today also published the final version of the written statement and we can confirm our APT meets the requirements.

What does the sheet say?

The document outlines new rules on:  

• Possessions and notice periods. 
• The abolition of the fixed term.  
• Rent increases.  
• The right to keep a pet. 
• Student lets. 

This is not new information, but confirmation of changes that have already been announced.

Has anything else changed?

The Government is also published secondary legislation later today including: 

• Minor changes to new tenancy forms 

• Information on measures affecting student lets, including official notice confirming Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is exempt from the from the assured tenancy system  

• Measures to increase civil penalties in line with previous announcements 

• Exemptions of legal representatives from duties imposed by the Renters’ Rights Act. 

There will also be what the Government refers to as ‘consequential amendments’ – other changes to allow the provisions of the Act to be implemented on 1st May. 

We will include more detail as it is published.

More information

• To visit our Renters' Rights Hub, packed with information and resources to help you manage the transition, click here.    
• We have also developed an exclusive Navigator tool, offering you your personalised "to-do list” tailored to your needs, which can be accessed here.     
• The NRLA's award-winning training academy runs a comprehensive Renters' Rights Act training offer. Click here to book your place.