The 1st of May has come and gone. By law, your existing fixed-term tenancies have now automatically converted into rolling periodic tenancies. While the big shift is technically over, many landlords are unaware that a much sharper secondary deadline is looming at the end of the month.
You have until 31st May 2026 to issue the mandatory government-produced Information Sheet to your tenants. You can think of this as the Administrative Own-Goal deadline, because failing to send a single PDF could result in a fine that wipes out your entire year’s profit.
What is the Information Sheet?
The Information Sheet is an official document produced by the Ministry of Housing. Its purpose is to explain to your tenants exactly how their rights have changed under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
Because your old tenancy agreements still contain references to “fixed terms” and “Section 21” (which are now legally void), the government requires you to provide this bridge document to ensure the tenant knows the new rules of the game.
The £7,000 Sting
This isn’t a friendly suggestion; it is a statutory requirement. Local authorities in London and across the UK have been granted new enforcement powers under the Act.
- The Penalty: Failure to serve the Information Sheet by 31st May is an offence. Local authorities can issue civil penalties of up to £7,000 per tenancy.
- The Link Trap: You cannot simply text your tenant a link to a website. To be legally served, you must provide a physical hard copy or attach the official PDF to an email. Sending a URL is a non-compliant dead end.
Technical Edge: Why This Invalidates Your Future
While the Renters’ Rights Act has simplified some parts of the possession process by removing the technical minefield of Section 21, it has introduced a new standard of Professional Conduct.
If you fail to provide the Information Sheet, you aren’t just risking a fine; you are flagging yourself as a non-compliant landlord in the eyes of the PRS Database and the Ombudsman.
The Possession Risk:
Should you need to regain possession of your property later this year using a Section 8 ground (such as Intention to Sell), a judge will look at your compliance record. If a tenant can prove you failed to provide the mandatory Information Sheet by the 31st May deadline, it creates a bad faith narrative. This can lead to:
- Adjournments: Judges may delay your hearing until compliance is proven.
- Counterclaims: Tenants may use your non-compliance as leverage for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) or as a defense against your claim.
Jargon Buster: What You Need to Know
- Rolling Periodic Tenancy: A tenancy with no set end date that moves forward month-to-month. All ASTs converted to this on 1st May.
- Section 8: The only remaining legal route for a landlord to end a tenancy. It requires a specific reason (ground), such as wanting to move back in or sell the property.
- Compliance Shield: Our internal process at Homesearch Properties, where we audit every document to ensure you are court-ready at all times.
The Homesearch Compliance Audit
At Homesearch, we don’t just manage properties; we protect assets. We have already issued the Information Sheet to 100% of our managed portfolio.
If you are a self-managing landlord, ask yourself these three questions today:
- Have I downloaded the final version of the Information Sheet (not the draft)?
- Have I sent it to every named tenant on the agreement (not just the lead tenant)?
- Do I have a time-stamped “Proof of Service” for my audit trail?
Don’t wait for the 1st June hangover. If you are unsure about your compliance status, let us act as your Compliance Shield. We can audit your current tenancies and ensure your paperwork is watertight before the local authority starts knocking.
Do you need an Emergency Compliance Audit? Contact us today.
