The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet is now live, here’s what London landlords need to know

Last Friday, the government released the official Information Sheet for the Renters’ Rights Act ahead of the changes coming into force in May 2026.

Whilst it’s written for tenants, landlords should be paying just as much attention to it.

Why? Because this is now the framework tenants will be reading from. It’s the document that sets out, in plain English, what’s changing, what their rights are, and what they can expect from their landlord from 1 May onwards.

And if you’re a landlord in London, especially if you’re self-managing, in the sharer market, or letting to students, it’s important to understand not just what the document says, but what it means in practice.

First things first, who actually needs to send it?

If you have an assured or assured shorthold tenancy that:

• was created before 1 May 2026
• has a wholly or partly written record of term
• including a written tenancy agreement

then the Information Sheet needs to be provided by 31 May 2026.

Important note: if you’re operating in the sharer or student market, this needs to go to all named tenants on the tenancy agreement, not just the lead tenant.

We’ve had a fair few DA landlords reach out following the release, so we wanted to break down the headline points and, more importantly, what they mean for London landlords in real terms.

Section 21 and possession 

As we know, Section 21 will be abolished from 1 May 2026.

That said, if notice has already been served before then, the Information Sheet makes it clear that landlords can still rely on the previous rules in certain circumstances.

The bigger point here is that possession is not disappearing, it’s just becoming more process-led.

From May, landlords will only be able to regain possession using a Section 8 notice, which means the conversation shifts from convenience to evidence. That doesn’t mean landlords lose control. It means paperwork, timing and record-keeping matter more.

And that’s really the theme running through all of this: landlords can still act, but the route is more structured and tenants are now being clearly told what that looks like.

The Information Sheet references a small number of grounds, but there are more that will matter to London landlords in practice. If you want the broader list, we’ve broken them down in more detail in our guide to regaining possession under Section 8 notices.

Rent increases 

The other headline point landlords need to be clear on is rent increases.

From 1 May 2026, rent review clauses can no longer be used for new rent increases. Instead, landlords will need to rely on the Section 13 process, and only once per year.

For many landlords, that won’t feel wildly different. Plenty were already reviewing rent annually. But the key point now is that the process is more formal, and the rent increase cannot be above open market rent.

That means evidence matters.

For self-managing landlords, there’s also a clear practical point here: you’ll need to give two months’ written notice before any increase takes effect.

So whilst this may sound like an admin change, it’s actually more strategic than that. Rent reviews now need to be handled with proper market backing, not just instinct.

If you want a deeper breakdown of the process, we’ve covered that in our recent blog on Section 13 notices and how to serve them.

Pets under the Renters’ Rights Act 

Pets are one of the areas likely to generate the biggest tenant questions, and the Information Sheet makes the government’s position pretty clear.

From 1 May 2026, tenants will have the right to request a pet, and landlords won’t be able to unreasonably refuse one.

That doesn’t mean every pet request has to be approved.

There are still a number of reasonable grounds that may apply, particularly in London, where leasehold restrictions, freeholder rules, building type and shared accommodation all play a much bigger role.

For example:

• your lease or freeholder may ban pets
• the property may simply not be suitable
• there may be sound-proofing or shared living considerations
• insurance or licensing restrictions may apply

The important point is that the answer can’t just be a blanket no. It needs to be considered properly, responded to within the correct timeframe, and recorded clearly.

And it’s also worth saying this: pet-friendly homes often perform well. In our experience, major damage is rare, and homes that allow pets can often let faster and keep good tenants for longer.

If you’re self-managing, you’ll also need to stay on top of the response window, keep your reasoning clear, and make sure your records are in order.

Why this matters 

The reason this Information Sheet matters isn’t because it tells landlords everything they need to know, it doesn’t. What it does do is show landlords exactly what tenants are now being told, what they’re likely to query, and where expectations are being set ahead of May. That’s important because once the changes go live, it won’t just be about knowing the legislation. It’ll be about understanding how tenants are interpreting it, how that changes conversations day to day, and how landlords need to respond.

Want the practical version, not just the headline changes? 

We’re hosting a Renters’ Rights Act Webinar on 23 April to help landlords understand what they should actually be preparing for ahead of May.

We’ll cover three key areas:

The legal and compliance side
What landlords need to understand around paperwork, deadlines and the practical steps required under the new rules.

The market side
How the changes are likely to play out across the rental market, including launch strategy, renewals and rent increases.

The longer-term strategy
How landlords can think beyond the immediate changes and focus on future-proofing their portfolio, long-term planning and management structure.

If you’re a London landlord and want a clearer view on what’s changing, and what you should be doing now, join us for our Renters’ Rights Act Webinar on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 12:30pm.

We’ll cover the practical implications in a 45-minute session, followed by a live Q&A so you can ask the questions that matter to your property or portfolio.

Reserve your place here.