Millions of private landlords across England are facing a ticking deadline under sweeping new rental reforms.
Some could be hit with fines worth thousands of pounds per property if they fail to act before the end of the month.
Private landlords across England are being warned they could face fines of up to £7,000 per property within weeks if they fail to comply with a major new legal requirement.
The deadline falls on May 31, leaving landlords with just over three weeks to avoid potentially costly penalties.
Under the new Renters' Rights Act, which came into force last week, landlords must provide every tenant with an official government information sheet explaining how the new rules affect their tenancy.
The document must be supplied as a PDF, with local councils able to issue fines of up to £7,000 for each tenancy where landlords fail to comply, according to government guidance.
However, figures suggest many landlords are still unaware of the new obligation despite the looming deadline.
Freedom of Information data reported by Property Industry Eye reveals the government's information sheet was downloaded just 153,000 times during the four weeks after it was published on 20 March.
Private landlords across England are being warned they could face fines of up to £7,000 per property within weeks
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This figure falls dramatically short of the estimated 2.3 million private landlords in England who must distribute the document by the deadline.
The data, released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to software firm Landlord Studio, points to a substantial compliance gap.
Tenants appear equally uninformed about the changes, with research from the TDS Charitable Foundation finding more than two-thirds of renters have either not heard of the Act or do not understand its implications for them.
The legislation introduces sweeping changes to how rental agreements work in England.
Under the new Renters' Rights Act, landlords must provide every tenant with an official government information sheet
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Fixed-term tenancies are being scrapped and replaced with rolling periodic arrangements, freeing renters from lengthy contractual commitments.
Section 21 'no-fault' evictions have been banned, meaning landlords must now provide a valid reason for ending any tenancy.
Tenants have gained the right to leave their homes with just two months' notice and can now challenge substandard living conditions or excessive rent hikes without worrying about being evicted in retaliation.
Despite these protections, awareness remains low, with 78 per cent of tenants unaware they can dispute rent increases at a tribunal, according to the TDS Charitable Foundation research.
The responsibility for sending the document depends on the arrangement between landlord and letting agent
| PAThe responsibility for sending the document depends on the arrangement between landlord and letting agent.
Where a fully managed service is in place, agents typically handle compliance duties, though landlords should verify this has been done since they ultimately bear the fine.
If an agent only finds tenants or collects rent, landlords may need to distribute the sheet themselves.
The document must go to every tenant named on agreements created before 1 May, delivered either as a printed copy or sent electronically via email or text.
Megan Eighteen, president of Arla Propertymark, said: "If your tenants already had a written tenancy agreement before 1 May 2026, the landlord or agent must provide that information sheet by 31 May 2026.
"Failure to do so can lead to enforcement action or a financial penalty from the local authority."