Do I need to reissue my tenancy agreements under the Renters' Rights Act?

Short answer: no. Existing agreements weren't torn up on 1 May 2026 - they converted automatically into assured periodic tenancies. You don't need to sign anything new with your tenants, and you shouldn't rush to.

But there are two duties that catch people out. First, if any of your tenancies had no written agreement, you must issue a written statement of terms. Second, every existing tenant should have received the government's official Information Sheet by 31 May 2026 - and you need to be able to prove service, because the penalty for missing it runs up to £7,000.

What "converted automatically" actually means

Fixed terms are gone. Your tenants can now leave with two months' notice at any point, and you can only seek possession using a valid ground under the new Section 8 regime. Clauses in your old agreement that contradict the Act simply stop having effect - the agreement survives, but the law wins.

What you should do this month

• Check a written record of terms exists for every tenancy - if not, issue a written statement.
• Confirm the Information Sheet was served, with dated proof, for every existing tenant.
• Make sure any new tenancy gets written information about its key terms, and follows the new rules from day one.

Sources: GOV.UK - The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 · MHCLG implementation roadmap. This guide is general information, not legal advice, based on published guidance as at July 2026.