Landlords in England have been given another practical reminder that the Renters’ Rights changes are now close enough to affect day-to-day admin, not just long-term planning. The government has published the official Renters’ Rights information sheet that must be given to many existing tenants, and it has also released preview versions of the new assured tenancy forms that will be used once the new system starts on 1 May 2026.
That makes this a useful point to check tenancy records, service methods and possession paperwork. Landlords and agents now have a clearer view of what must be given to tenants, how it must be given, and which forms will replace older documents after the changeover.
What has been published
The first key document is the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. According to the government, landlords and their agents in England must give this exact PDF to tenants where the tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy created before 1 May 2026 and there is a wholly or partly written record of the terms. A copy must be given to every named tenant, and it must be provided by 31 May 2026.
The guidance also says the information sheet is only valid when downloaded from the GOV.UK page itself. Landlords cannot simply send tenants a link. The document must be given as a hard copy or as the PDF attached directly to an email or text message. Lodgers do not need to receive it, and purely verbal tenancies follow a different route, with written information about key tenancy terms instead.
The second key publication is the new assured tenancy forms for privately rented properties from 1 May 2026. These include the updated possession notice form, known as Form 3A, and the new rent proposal form, Form 4A, alongside other forms linked to tenancy changes and agricultural occupancies. For now, the versions online are watermarked previews so landlords can see what will be required. They are not the live forms to serve yet. The usable versions are due to appear on 1 May on the main assured tenancy forms page.
Why this matters for landlords now
Recent Here4 Landlords coverage has focused on the wider Renters’ Rights timetable and the new penalties guidance. These latest publications matter because they move the conversation from general preparation into specific operational detail.
For example, the information-sheet guidance says landlords who miss the 31 May deadline could face a fine of up to £7,000. If a letting agent manages the property, the guidance says the agent must provide the sheet even if the landlord has also done so, so responsibility and process checks matter on managed stock as well as self-managed properties.
The new forms also matter because they show how standard tenancy actions will look once assured shorthold tenancies and section 21 are removed from the private rented sector in England. Landlords who still rely on older templates or saved PDFs may want to review those now rather than waiting until the final week.
What may be worth checking before 1 May
First, it may be worth identifying which existing tenancies actually need the information sheet. The guidance is specific: it applies to assured or assured shorthold tenancies created before 1 May 2026 where there is a wholly or partly written record of terms. That points to a straightforward file review rather than a blanket assumption that every occupier should receive the same document.
Second, landlords may want to check how they plan to serve the information sheet. If the intention is to send it electronically, the official guidance says the PDF itself should be attached. Sending only a web link is not enough. If records are incomplete, this is also a sensible moment to check named tenants, current contact details and whether service evidence will be retained.
Third, review existing possession and rent-rise paperwork. The preview forms show the shape of the new regime before commencement. Landlords who may need to propose a rent increase after 1 May should also be aware of the route tenants can use to challenge that increase. Our earlier piece on market rent determination guidance gives more context on that part of the process.
Finally, check any transitional cases carefully. The government says that if a valid section 8 or section 21 notice is served before 1 May 2026 and has not expired immediately before that date, the current forms can continue to be used only in limited circumstances. One important cut-off is that court proceedings must usually be started by the earlier of the notice deadline or 31 July 2026, unless a breathing-space exception applies. That is the kind of detail landlords may want to review against the official guidance rather than relying on memory or old checklists.
A practical takeaway
The latest GOV.UK publications do not just repeat the Renters’ Rights headlines. They give landlords a more practical to-do list: identify existing tenancies that need the information sheet, make sure the exact PDF can be served properly, review who is responsible for giving it, and start updating document packs and workflows for the new forms that go live on 1 May.
This article is informational only and does not amount to legal, tax or financial advice. Individual circumstances differ, so landlords may want to check the official guidance and seek professional advice where needed.
