The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet
A short government document explaining the 2026 changes, which landlords had to give tenants with a written tenancy agreement from before 1 May 2026 by 31 May 2026.
In short: The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 is published by the government and explains what changed for existing tenancies on 1 May 2026. Landlords of tenancies with a written agreement made before that date had to give it to their tenants by 31 May 2026. It must be the government's own version, not a rewritten one.
The Renters’ Rights ActTenancies and agreements
英格蘭。 已於 5 October 2026 對照法律查核. 僅供參考，並非法律建議。
The sheet tells existing tenants that their tenancy became an assured periodic tenancy, that section 21 has gone, how rent increases now work and how they can end the tenancy.
What landlords needed to know:
- Who: landlords of private assured tenancies in England that existed on 1 May 2026 and had a written agreement.
- When: by 31 May 2026.
- How: the version published on GOV.UK, unchanged, by any way the tenancy allows documents to be given.
- Where a tenancy had no written terms at all, the regulations ask for a written record of the terms instead.
A landlord who has not given it can still do so; the council can impose a civil penalty for not giving it. New tenancies get the written statement of terms instead.
Related: Written statement of terms, Assured shorthold tenancy
資料來源
Guides on this
Guide
The assured periodic tenancy explained
Every private tenancy in England is now an assured periodic tenancy. What that is, how it starts, how it ends, and what your agreement can and cannot say.
Guide
Pet requests: you have to consider them
Since 1 May 2026 a tenant in England can ask to keep a pet, and the landlord must not unreasonably refuse. How the request works, what counts as reasonable, and what you can ask for in return.
Template
Written statement of terms: a fill-in checklist
A landlord in England must give the tenant a written statement of terms before the tenancy starts. This is a checklist to gather the details and record when you gave it. It is not a tenancy agreement.
Guide
What changed for landlords on 1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act came into force in England on 1 May 2026. Section 21 is gone, every tenancy is now periodic, and rent rises follow one procedure. Here is what a self-managing landlord actually has to do differently.
Related terms
Glossary
Assured periodic tenancy
The standard private tenancy in England since 1 May 2026: it rolls on month to month (or shorter) with no end date until the tenant or landlord ends it properly.
Glossary
Assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
The usual private tenancy in England from 1997 until 30 April 2026. On 1 May 2026 existing ASTs became assured periodic tenancies and no new private ones can be made.
Glossary
Written statement of terms
The document a private landlord in England must give a tenant before a tenancy is made, setting out the key terms the law lists. Required since 1 May 2026.
Glossary
Pet request
Since 1 May 2026 a private tenant in England can ask in writing to keep a pet, and the landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and cannot refuse unreasonably.
Glossary
Awaab's Law
Rules setting fixed times for landlords to investigate and fix damp, mould and other serious hazards. In force for social housing; due to be extended to private lets.
Glossary
Civil penalty
A fine a council can impose on a landlord or agent instead of prosecuting, for breaches of housing law such as letting an unlicensed HMO or ignoring an improvement notice.