HMRC just emailed you. Here's what you need to do before 31 May.
You have nine days. Here's exactly what the deadline means and how to meet it in 20 minutes.
If you’re a landlord in England, you may have received an email from HMRC today. It was sent in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and it contains a deadline that you cannot miss: 31 May 2026.
Here’s what it requires and exactly how to comply.
What the deadline is
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, every landlord with an existing tenancy in England — meaning any tenancy that was in place before 1 May 2026 — must provide their tenant with the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet before or on 31 May 2026.
This is not optional. It is a legal requirement.
What is the Information Sheet?
It’s a government-produced document that explains to your tenant what the Renters’ Rights Act means for their tenancy. Specifically it covers the abolition of fixed terms, the new rules around rent increases, and their rights under the new system.
You don’t write it yourself — the government has produced it for you.
How to get it
Go to GOV.UK and search “Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet.” Download the PDF. That’s it.
How to send it
You have two options:
Email it as a PDF attachment to your tenant — not a link, an actual attachment
Post or hand deliver a printed copy
I’d strongly recommend email with the PDF attached — it gives you a date-stamped record that you sent it, which matters if there’s ever a dispute.
What to say when you send it
Keep it simple. Something like:
“Dear [tenant name], as required under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, please find attached the government’s Information Sheet explaining what the new legislation means for your tenancy. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.”
That’s all you need. No legal jargon, no lengthy explanation.
What if your tenancy is verbal?
The HMRC email mentions this edge case. If your tenancy was agreed verbally with no written agreement, you cannot send the Information Sheet — instead you need to provide your tenant with a written record of the key terms of their tenancy (rent amount, payment date, property address, notice periods). Check GOV.UK for the full list of what must be included.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
The legislation doesn’t specify a fixed penalty for failing to provide the Information Sheet by 31 May, but non-compliance creates real risk. It can undermine your ability to rely on certain possession grounds later, and it signals to a tribunal that you’re not managing the tenancy compliantly. Don’t risk it for the sake of a five-minute job.
The bottom line
Download the Information Sheet from GOV.UK
Email it as a PDF attachment to every tenant you have in England
Keep a copy of the sent email in your records
Done
Nine days, twenty minutes of your time, legal obligation met.
— The Informed Landlord