Renters' Rights Act — Information sheet and landlord deadlines

The important deadlines have now split into two groups: what went live on 1 May 2026, and what still comes later. The biggest immediate paperwork deadline for many landlords is 31 May 2026.

Key dates and milestones

1 May 2026 — phase 1 tenancy reforms started

From this date:

• Section 21 ended
• most ASTs moved onto the assured periodic tenancy regime
• new fixed-term ASTs stopped
• the revised rent increase process started
• the new pet request process started
• the new written-information rules started

31 May 2026 — catch-up paperwork deadline

By 31 May 2026 you must:

• give the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 to tenants on older written tenancies created before 1 May 2026, or
• give prescribed written tenancy information to tenants on older oral tenancies created before 1 May 2026

Late 2026 — PRS Database rollout begins

The government roadmap says rollout of the Database of PRS properties begins from late 2026.

2028 — expected point for mandatory Ombudsman membership

The roadmap says mandatory PRS Landlord Ombudsman membership is expected in 2028.

What landlords should do now

• Review every tenancy created before 1 May 2026 and separate written agreements from oral ones
• Serve the correct document by 31 May 2026
• Update new-tenancy paperwork so prescribed written information is given before the tenancy is agreed
• Update internal processes for rent increases, pet requests, and possession notices
• Prepare property data for the later PRS Database rollout

Section 21 transition reminder

If you served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, GOV.UK says you can only start court proceedings up to the earlier of:

• 6 months after the notice was given, or
• 31 July 2026

That deadline can be shorter than landlords expect, so check any existing notices carefully.

What evidence to keep

• A tenancy list showing which agreements existed before 1 May 2026
• A record of which tenants were sent the Information Sheet
• A copy of any written information created for older oral tenancies
• Service evidence for all of the above
• Dates for any pre-1 May Section 21 notices and the final court-issue deadline

FAQ

Do I need to give the Information Sheet to every tenant I already have?
You need to give it to tenants on pre-1 May 2026 written tenancies. If the tenancy was entirely oral, you need to give prescribed written tenancy information instead.

Is the PRS Database deadline also 31 May 2026?
No. The roadmap says Database rollout begins later, from late 2026.

Do I need to join the PRS Landlord Ombudsman by 31 May 2026?
No. The roadmap says mandatory membership is expected in 2028.