The Importance of 1st May 2026

When the Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent, the key point of discussion was when Secondary Legislation would be implemented - June 2026 was a clear favourite, however, civil servants opted for 1st May 2026. Whilst it is too late to change anything now, May is one of the shortest months in the calendar.

The Renters’ Rights Act has put in place some significant time frames for landlords and letting agents when Time will be of the Essence. The government will publish the Information Sheet and the Written Statement of Terms in March 2026 which landlords must not only familiarise themselves with, but also adhere to some strict time frames. From the 1st May 2026 landlords must serve the Information Sheet on all existing tenants and guarantors. The deadline to ensure they have complied is 31st May 2026, however, May is a very short month. There are 31 calendar days, 5 weekends totalling 10 weekend days.