⚠️ You have 20 days. Here’s exactly what to do.
Welcome to The Landlord Brief — plain English updates on everything that matters to UK landlords, delivered twice a week. No jargon, no waffle, just what you need to know and what you need to do.
Let’s start with the most urgent thing on your to-do list right now.
The 31 May Deadline Most Landlords Don’t Know About
If you have tenants in a privately rented property, you have a legal obligation to send them a specific government document by 31 May 2026. That’s 20 days away.
Miss it and the consequences are serious — fines starting at £4,000, up to £7,000, and in some cases your possession notices become legally invalid. If you ever need to use Ground 1 or Ground 1A to reclaim your property, an unserved information sheet can make your Section 8 notice worthless.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Information Sheet?
It’s a four-page PDF published by the government on 20 March 2026. It explains to your tenants what changed on 1 May — the end of fixed-term tenancies, the abolition of Section 21, the new rent increase rules, and their rights around pets.
You don’t need to explain any of it yourself. Your only job is to deliver it.
Download the official sheet here:
👉 gov.uk — Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026
⚠️ Important: only the official government PDF is valid. You cannot use a summary, a paraphrase, or a third-party version.
Does this apply to you?
You must send it if all three of the following apply:
✅ The tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold tenancy
✅ There is a wholly or partly written tenancy agreement
✅ The tenancy was in place before 1 May 2026
It does not apply if:
• Your tenant is a lodger living in your own home
• The tenancy is in social housing
• The tenancy was based entirely on a verbal agreement (you need a Written Statement instead — same deadline)
• The tenancy ended before 31 May 2026
How to serve it correctly
This is where landlords trip up. Delivery method matters.
Email — acceptable if your tenancy agreement or prior communication establishes email as a valid service method. Screenshot or download confirmation of sending. Keep it.
Post — send recorded delivery. Keep the receipt.
Hand delivery — get the tenant to sign and date a copy confirming receipt.
Using a letting agent? — they are also legally required to serve it, even if you already have. Don’t assume they’ve done it. Confirm it in writing today.
What to do right now (5 minute job)
1. Download the official PDF from gov.uk (link above)
2. Email it to every qualifying tenant today
3. Keep a record of when and how you sent it — date, method, who it went to
4. Store those records for at least 6 years
5. If you use an agent, message them today asking for written confirmation it’s been sent
That’s it. Five steps. Twenty minutes maximum for most landlords.
What happens if you miss it?
Fines start at around £4,000, rising to £7,000 depending on the severity and any aggravating factors. If non-compliance continues for more than 28 days after a penalty has been issued, it can escalate to a criminal offence with fines up to £40,000 or prosecution.
And separately — if you need to use Ground 1 or Ground 1A to repossess your property and you haven’t given the tenant the information sheet, your Section 8 notice will not be valid.
A £4,000 fine for not emailing a PDF. Don’t be that landlord.
Coming up this week
On Thursday we’re covering Making Tax Digital — who it applies to right now, what software actually works for landlords, and how to get compliant before HMRC comes knocking.
If this was useful, forward it to a landlord you know. They probably haven’t heard about this deadline either.
The Landlord Brief is published every Monday and Thursday. To subscribe or read past editions visit https://samuels-newsletter-7942f6.beehiiv.com This newsletter is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.