Company Lets and Information Sheet Compliance: When the Duty Applies

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces new compliance obligations for landlords, including the duty to serve Information Sheet 2026 to tenants. But what happens when your tenant is a company rather than an individual? Understanding when the Information Sheet duty applies to company lets—and how to serve it properly—is crucial for avoiding potential penalties.

Company Lets vs Residential Tenancies

What Constitutes a Company Let?

A company let occurs when the tenant named on the tenancy agreement is a limited company, LLP, or other corporate entity rather than an individual person. These arrangements are common in several scenarios:

• Corporate housing for employees
• Short-term accommodation for business visitors
• Investment properties held by property companies
• Student accommodation arranged through education providers

The key distinction isn't how the property is used, but who holds the legal tenancy. Even if individuals occupy the property, if the tenancy agreement is with a company, it's classified as a company let.

Residential Use vs Commercial Tenancy

It's important not to confuse company lets with commercial tenancies. A property let to a company but used for residential purposes (such as housing employees) may still fall under residential tenancy legislation. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 focuses on the residential use of the property, not solely on the identity of the tenant.

When Does the Information Sheet Duty Apply?

The General Rule

The Information Sheet duty under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 applies to most residential tenancies. This includes company lets where the property is used for residential purposes. The fact that the tenant is a corporate entity doesn't automatically exempt the landlord from compliance obligations.

Key Exemptions

Certain types of tenancy are exempt from the Information Sheet requirement:

• Genuine commercial tenancies (offices, shops, warehouses)
• Holiday lets and short-term accommodation under specific thresholds
• Certain regulated social housing arrangements
• Student accommodation in specific circumstances

However, most company lets involving residential use will require Information Sheet service, particularly where the company is providing accommodation for individuals.

The 31 May 2026 Deadline

For existing tenancies, landlords have until 31 May 2026 to serve Information Sheet 2026. For new tenancies created after the Act comes into force, the Information Sheet must typically be served within specified timeframes from the start of the tenancy.

Serving the Information Sheet to Company Tenants

Identifying the Authorised Contact

When serving legal notices to companies, you must ensure delivery to an authorised representative. For company lets, this might be:

• The registered office address
• A director or company secretary
• An agent specifically authorised to receive notices
• The contact person specified in the tenancy agreement

Check your tenancy agreement for specific notice provisions. Many commercial tenancy agreements include clauses specifying how notices should be served.

Electronic Service Considerations

While email service may be acceptable for Information Sheet delivery, ensure you have clear authority to use electronic communication with the company tenant. This might be established through:

• Explicit agreement in the tenancy terms
• Written consent from an authorised company representative
• Established course of dealing via email

Platforms like Ploxit can help ensure proper electronic service by providing audit trails showing when the Information Sheet was sent, opened, and acknowledged—essential evidence for demonstrating compliance.

Compliance Best Practices

Documentation Requirements

Maintain comprehensive records of Information Sheet service, including:

• Date and method of service
• Recipient details and authority to receive notices
• Proof of delivery (email receipts, tracking information)
• Evidence of acknowledgement where obtained

"Proper documentation isn't just about ticking compliance boxes—it's about protecting your position if disputes arise or enforcement action is taken."

Using the Official Information Sheet

Ensure you're serving the correct, official version of Information Sheet 2026. The sheet must be provided exactly as published by the government—any modifications could invalidate your compliance efforts. Services like Ploxit serve the official GOV.UK Information Sheet 2026 PDF byte-for-byte, with hash verification to ensure authenticity.

Multiple Occupiers

Where a company let involves multiple individuals occupying the property (such as employee accommodation), consider whether additional notices or information should be provided to the actual occupiers, even though the legal tenant is the company.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Assuming Exemption

Don't automatically assume company lets are exempt from Information Sheet requirements. The test is primarily whether the property is used for residential purposes, not the legal structure of the tenant.

Inadequate Service

Serving the Information Sheet to an unauthorised contact could invalidate your compliance. Always verify the recipient has authority to receive legal notices on behalf of the company.

Poor Record Keeping

Without proper documentation, you cannot demonstrate compliance. This is particularly important for company lets where service arrangements may be more complex than with individual tenants.

Delayed Action

Waiting until close to the 31 May 2026 deadline increases the risk of non-compliance if issues arise. Start the compliance process early to allow time for resolving any service problems.

Streamlining Compliance

Managing Information Sheet compliance for company lets—alongside individual tenants—can be complex. Modern compliance tools can simplify this process significantly. Ploxit, for example, allows landlords to serve the official Information Sheet, maintain tribunal-ready audit logs, and track acknowledgements—all while ensuring the landlord remains the data controller under UK GDPR requirements.

The platform's setup takes under two minutes, making it practical for landlords with both individual and corporate tenants to maintain consistent compliance standards across their portfolio.

Getting Compliance Right

Company lets present unique challenges for Information Sheet compliance, but they're not insurmountable. Focus on understanding when the duty applies, ensuring proper service to authorised contacts, and maintaining comprehensive records.

Whether you manage one company let or a mixed portfolio of individual and corporate tenancies, establishing robust compliance processes now will protect your position as the Renters' Rights Act 2025 requirements take effect.

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This article provides general information about company lets and Information Sheet compliance. It does not constitute legal advice. Consider seeking professional guidance for specific situations or complex tenancy arrangements.