The Renters' Rights Act 2025 commenced on 1 May 2026. The first month after commencement is the most deadline-intensive period for landlords in England and Wales. Two statutory obligations have specific dates attached — and the penalties for missing them are severe.
31 May 2026: England — Information Sheet to every existing tenant (fine up to £7,000). 14 June 2026: Wales — variation notice for discrimination fundamental terms (civil penalty + rent repayment risk).
Deadline 1 — 31 May 2026 (England): Serve the Information Sheet
Every private landlord in England with a written tenancy agreement in place before 1 May 2026 must serve the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet on every named tenant by 31 May 2026.
The obligation opened on 1 May 2026 and closes at midnight on 31 May 2026. There is no grace period. Serving on 1 June 2026 is non-compliant.
- Download the official PDF from GOV.UK (search 'Renters Rights Act Information Sheet 2026'). Do not edit or reformat it.
- Attach the PDF to an email to each named tenant — or print and hand-deliver or send by first-class post. A link does not comply.
- Serve each named tenant individually. Joint tenancy with three named tenants? Three separate services.
- Keep a service record — date, method, and confirmation for each tenant.
First offence: civil penalty up to £7,000. Second offence: civil penalty up to £40,000. Local authorities enforce this. Tenants can report non-compliance.
Does the Information Sheet obligation apply to new tenants?
No. The Information Sheet obligation applies only to tenancies in place before 1 May 2026. For new tenancies started on or after 1 May 2026, the obligation does not apply — the Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement itself incorporates the new statutory regime from day one.
What about verbal tenancies (no written agreement)?
If your tenancy was wholly verbal (no written agreement before 1 May 2026), you cannot serve the Information Sheet. Instead, you must serve a Written Statement of Terms by the same 31 May 2026 deadline. The Written Statement must include the landlord's name and address, rent amount and payment dates, and deposit details. The same penalties apply.
Deadline 2 — 14 June 2026 (Wales): Serve the variation notice
Welsh landlords with existing standard occupation contracts have a separate compliance deadline: a variation notice for the new discrimination fundamental terms must be served on every contract-holder between 1 June and 14 June 2026.
The Welsh Government has adopted the discrimination provisions of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 into Welsh law by amending the fundamental terms of occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. The new fundamental terms — banning refusal on the basis of benefit receipt and families with children — apply from 1 June 2026 to all existing contracts.
The variation notice is a government-prescribed document. It must be served on every named contract-holder between 1 June and 14 June 2026 — you cannot serve before 1 June, and you cannot serve after 14 June.
Civil penalty notice from the local authority. Rent Repayment Order from the Rent Authority. Missing this window means the new fundamental terms have not been formally added to the written statement — non-compliant Welsh landlords face enforcement from 15 June 2026.
Who is affected by the Welsh variation notice?
You are affected if you have a private standard occupation contract in Wales — including single-let, HMO per-room, and periodic contracts — in place on 1 June 2026. Social housing (secure contracts) is dealt with separately. Lodger arrangements outside the Act are not affected. New contracts granted on or after 1 June 2026 automatically incorporate the new fundamental terms — no variation notice needed.
Full May–June 2026 deadline calendar
| Date | Jurisdiction | Obligation | Penalty for non-compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | England | RRA commences — use PAT for all new tenancies; Section 21 abolished | £7,000 penalty for serving Section 21 |
| 31 May 2026 | England | Serve Information Sheet on all existing tenants | Up to £7,000 per tenancy |
| 31 May 2026 | England | Serve Written Statement of Terms on verbal tenancy holders | Up to £7,000 per tenancy |
| 1–14 June 2026 | Wales | Serve variation notice for discrimination fundamental terms | Civil penalty + rent repayment risk |
| 31 July 2026 | England | File court proceedings for any pre-commencement Section 21 notice | Notice permanently lapses after this date |
Checking you have covered everything
- England landlords: List every written tenancy you had in place before 1 May 2026. Mark each one as 'Information Sheet served' or 'pending'. Serve by 31 May.
- England verbal tenancy landlords: Prepare and serve a Written Statement of Terms on verbal tenancy holders by 31 May.
- Wales landlords: Prepare the variation notice documents now. Do not serve before 1 June — watch for the WG variation notice text to be confirmed on GOV.WALES.
- Section 21 holders: If you served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, the clock is ticking. File court proceedings by 31 July 2026 or the notice lapses permanently.
LetSafe UK's Information Sheet Serving Pack (£14.99) includes a cover letter, per-tenant service log, and certificate of service — everything needed to demonstrate compliance if challenged by a local authority.