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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Landlords and letting agents will have to provide tenants with official guidance from the Government about their new rights under the Renters’ Rights Act at the beginning of all tenancies from April 1st next year, it has been revealed.
The surprise announcement is buried within the detailed updates issues by the Government after it announced that a large swathe of the legislation will go live on May 1st next year, with two further phases of implementation later on next year and beyond.
The new guidance says: “All tenancies will need to have a written tenancy agreement in future, that includes specific information. Landlords won’t need to change or re-issue existing written tenancy agreements.
“Instead, they will need to provide tenants with a copy of a government-produced information sheet, explaining how the reforms may have affected the tenancy.”
This will be on top of the existing requirement to provide proof of rental deposit protection, a gas safety certificate, electrical safety certificate and the ‘How to Rent’ booklet.
Commenting on the change, Scott Goldstein (main image), Property Disputes Partner at law firm Payne Hicks Beach, says: “There is a lot of work to do before the first raft of reforms is introduced in May.
“The Government says it will produce information sheets notifying tenants of their new rights. Landlords and managing agents will have to give their tenants these information sheets by no later than 1st April.
"These regulations will apply to oral tenancies as well as written ones, representing a trap for the unwary.
"Penalties for non-compliance include a fine of up to £7,000, and possibly criminal liability. It is critical that landlords and agents are up to speed with these changes."
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