The Tenant Information Sheet: What It Is and When to Serve It

The Tenant Information Sheet replaced the How to Rent guide for all new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026. It is a mandatory document introduced by the Renters' Rights Act. Failure to serve it correctly prevents you from serving a valid Section 8 notice.

Important: the Tenant Information Sheet applies to new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026 only. Do not serve it on tenants whose tenancy started before that date.

What is the Tenant Information Sheet?

The Tenant Information Sheet is a prescribed document that replaced the How to Rent guide. It summarises tenants' rights and landlords' obligations under the RRA. It covers:

- The new periodic tenancy structure

- How tenants can give notice

- How landlords can seek possession (Section 8 grounds)

- Rent increase rules

- Deposit protection rights

- The right to request a pet

- The right to make improvements

- How to report repairs

- How to complain about the landlord

- Register Your Rental Property and how to check landlord registration

When Must It Be Served?

- For all new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026: at the start of the tenancy (before or on the day the tenant moves in)

- When a new version is published: provide the updated version before serving any new Section 8 notice

- Do NOT serve it on tenants whose tenancy started before 1 May 2026

How to Serve It

You can serve the Tenant Information Sheet:

- In hard copy (hand delivered or posted)

- By email (if the tenant has agreed to receive documents electronically)

- Via a tenant portal (if the tenant has access)

Keep proof of service — a signed receipt, a read receipt from email, or a recorded delivery confirmation.

What Happens If You Don't Serve It?

If you have not served the current version of the Tenant Information Sheet, you cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice. You can remedy the failure by serving the document before serving the Section 8 notice — but you cannot backdate service.

Where to Get the Current Version

The Tenant Information Sheet is published by MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) on GOV.UK. Always use the most current version — check before each new tenancy.

A branded version for Landlord Handbook subscribers is available in the Documents section of this platform.

Joint Tenancies

Serve the Tenant Information Sheet on every named tenant. Serving it on the lead tenant only is not sufficient.

Common Mistakes

❌ Not serving it at all — prevents Section 8 notice

❌ Serving an old version — must be the current published version

❌ Serving only on the lead tenant in a joint tenancy

❌ Not keeping proof of service

❌ Serving it on tenants whose tenancy started before 1 May 2026 (it does not apply to them)

❌ Providing the old How to Rent guide instead — it is abolished for new tenancies

Top Tips

✓ Add the Tenant Information Sheet to your move-in checklist

✓ Email it with a read receipt for easy proof of service

✓ Check GOV.UK before each new tenancy to confirm you have the current version

✓ Set a calendar reminder to check for new versions every 6 months

✓ Keep a copy of the version served in each tenant's file