The 31 May tenant information sheet deadline has now passed – what agents may wish to verify next

The 31 May 2026 deadline for serving the mandatory tenant information sheet under Schedule 1 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has now passed. In the final days of May, industry bodies including Propertymark and Property Industry Eye urged agents to act, warning that many had not yet updated onboarding processes or distributed the sheet to existing tenancies. Propertymark issued a reminder on 28 May that failure to comply risked enforcement action, while Property Industry Eye reported on 29 May that a large proportion of letting agents remained unprepared.

One suggested approach for agents is now to verify with compliance teams that the information sheet was in fact served to all tenants named on assured shorthold or assured tenancy agreements – both those created before 1 May 2026 (when the Act's core provisions took effect) and all new tenancies signed from that date. Agents often choose to retain proof of service, such as email receipts or signed acknowledgment, for each tenant, in case of local authority inquiry or enforcement action.

What changed and who is affected

Schedule 1 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 required landlords and their agents to provide a standardised government information sheet to every tenant on an assured or assured shorthold tenancy. For new tenancies signed from 1 May 2026, the sheet was required at signing; for existing tenancies created before that date, the deadline was 31 May 2026. The sheet explains key tenant rights under the new regime, including the abolition of Section 21 'no-fault' evictions and the shift to periodic tenancies.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data, published by Property118 on 22 May, showed only 153,000 downloads of the sheet in its first four weeks – against a backdrop of 2.3 million private landlords in England. Property118 warned on 29 May that a large proportion of landlords remained unaware of the requirement, risking civil penalties up to £7,000 for non-compliance. Letting agents managing properties for less-engaged landlord clients may wish to review their agency management systems to confirm that every tenancy has either received the sheet or has a documented landlord instruction on file.

Rising tenant complaints and knowledge gaps

Letting Agent Today reported on 11 June 2026 – within the last seven days – that tenant complaints to lettings agents have risen since the Act took effect, and warned that the Renters' Rights Act will increase volumes further. Agents managing assured shorthold tenancies that converted to periodic tenancies from 1 May may wish to review complaint logs from May to identify any pattern linked to the abolition of Section 21 or periodic-tenancy conversions.

Multiple surveys published in May highlighted a significant awareness gap. A Letting Agent Today survey on 21 May found that only 3% of landlords fully understand the Act, while research from Barclays (also 21 May) and Propoly (15 May) found that between 36% and 40% of tenants remain unaware of their new protections. Agents may wish to confirm that customer-service staff are familiar with the new possession grounds under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Renters' Rights Act) and can answer tenant questions consistently. One suggested approach is to prepare a short FAQ covering common tenant queries about Section 21 abolition, periodic tenancies, and the tenant information sheet itself.

Tribunal fees, enforcement powers, and market impact

Local Government Lawyer published detailed guidance on 14 May examining the enforcement powers now available to councils, including rent repayment orders, financial penalties, and prosecution routes for landlord and agent non-compliance. Agents may wish to review this guidance to confirm which enforcement powers apply in their local authority area and to verify that tenant information sheets were in fact issued by the 31 May deadline.

The Ministry of Justice introduced a new tiered fee framework for property tribunals under the Act, with landlords now required to pay upfront costs when challenging civil penalties or rent increase decisions. Propertymark warned on 12 May that tribunal application fees may reach £500 per case from 1 May 2026. Agents advising landlord clients on possession proceedings or rent appeals may wish to factor these costs and potential tribunal delays into case timelines and client budgets.

Market impacts are already visible. Letting Agent Today reported on 14 May that sales of tenanted properties have fallen sharply since 1 May, as landlords can no longer guarantee vacant possession using Section 21 notices. Agents marketing tenanted sales may wish to verify that all listings state clearly that possession cannot be guaranteed by a fixed date and depends on the statutory grounds under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988.

Suggested next steps

Agents may wish to confirm with their compliance teams that all tenant information sheets required by 31 May 2026 have been issued and that proof of service is on file. One suggested approach is to review landlord briefing materials to ensure clients understand the ongoing RRA obligations, including the new possession grounds, rent-review mechanisms, and tribunal costs. Agents often choose to check that onboarding checklists, tenancy templates, and staff training materials all reflect the periodic tenancy regime and the abolition of Section 21 from 1 May 2026.

Readers are encouraged to verify all details against the Renters' Rights Act 2025, Schedule 1, and the official guidance published at GOV.UK before taking action, and to consult a solicitor for case-specific advice. WatchdogHQ is an information service, not legal advice and not a solicitor.