How to Rent Guide: Landlord Obligations Explained

The How to Rent guide is a government-produced booklet that landlords in England must provide to every tenant at the start of their tenancy. While it may seem like a minor formality compared to gas safety certificates or deposit protection, failing to serve the How to Rent guide has significant legal consequences.

For tenancies that pre-date the Renters' Rights Act 2025, failure to serve the How to Rent guide means you cannot serve a valid Section 21 eviction notice. Even under the new system where Section 21 is abolished, the guide remains a legal requirement, and failure to serve it may affect your ability to pursue possession proceedings.

This guide explains what the How to Rent booklet is, when you must serve it, how to prove you served it, and what happens if you do not comply.

What Is the How to Rent Guide?

The How to Rent guide is a booklet published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) — now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). It provides tenants with information about their rights and responsibilities, including:

• What to look for before renting a property
• What to expect from a landlord or letting agent
• The tenant's rights regarding deposits, repairs, and eviction
• Where to get help if something goes wrong
• Information about energy efficiency, gas safety, and electrical safety

The guide is updated periodically, and landlords must provide the most current version at the time the tenancy begins. The latest version is always available on GOV.UK.

When Must You Serve the Guide?

You must provide the How to Rent guide to the tenant at the start of each new tenancy. This means:

• Before the tenancy begins: Ideally at the point of signing the tenancy agreement or at the key handover
• At each renewal: If the guide has been updated since the last version you served, you must provide the new version when the tenancy is renewed
• To all adult tenants: Every named tenant on the tenancy agreement must receive a copy

How to Prove You Served It

Proving that you served the How to Rent guide is essential. If a dispute arises, you need evidence that the tenant received it. Best practices:

• Email with read receipt: Send the guide as an email attachment and request a read receipt. Save the confirmation.
• Email with link: Send an email containing a link to the current GOV.UK version. The sent email serves as your record.
• Signed acknowledgement: If providing a physical copy, ask the tenant to sign a confirmation that they received it.
• Tenancy agreement clause: Include a clause in the tenancy agreement confirming the tenant received the guide. The tenant's signature on the agreement then serves as acknowledgement.

What Happens If You Do Not Serve It?

The consequences of failing to serve the How to Rent guide depend on the type of tenancy and the applicable legislation:

Pre-Renters' Rights Act Tenancies

For assured shorthold tenancies that began before the Renters' Rights Act took effect, failure to serve the How to Rent guide means you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice. This effectively prevents you from using the no-fault eviction route until you serve the guide and wait the required notice period.

Post-Renters' Rights Act Tenancies

Under the new system, Section 21 is abolished and all tenancies are periodic. However, the How to Rent guide remains a legal requirement under the Deregulation Act 2015 (as amended). Failure to serve it could be raised as a defence by tenants in possession proceedings and may also be a factor considered by the PRS database and landlord ombudsman.

Keeping Records

For each tenancy, you should retain:

• A copy of the version of the How to Rent guide that was served
• The date the guide was served
• The method of service (email, physical copy, etc.)
• Proof of delivery (read receipt, signed acknowledgement, or email confirmation)
• A note of any updated versions served during the tenancy

Latch stores all tenancy documents in one place, making it simple to confirm at any time that the How to Rent guide was served and which version was provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an old version of the guide?

No. You must provide the version that is current at the time the tenancy begins. Check GOV.UK for the latest version before each new tenancy.

Do I need to serve it for renewals?

If the guide has been updated since you last served it, you should serve the new version when the tenancy is renewed or becomes periodic. If the same version is still current, you do not need to re-serve it.

Does my letting agent handle this?

Most letting agents will serve the How to Rent guide as part of their tenancy setup process. However, you should confirm this with your agent and ensure you have a record of it being served.