The How to Rent guide: what landlords must do in 2026
The How to Rent guide is the government's official checklist for tenants in England – and giving it to your tenant is not a courtesy, it is a legal duty. Here is what the duty involves in 2026, which version to use, and the consequences of getting it wrong.
What the guide is
Published by the government, the guide explains a tenant's rights and responsibilities: what to check before renting, what landlords must provide, how deposits and repairs work, and – since the Renters' Rights Act – the new rules on rent increases, pets and possession. It is updated periodically, which is where landlords get caught out.
The landlord's duty
- Give the current version to every tenant at the start of a new tenancy. A paper copy, or a PDF by email if the tenant has agreed to receive documents electronically.
- Use the edition in force on the day the tenancy is entered into. Serving a superseded version does not satisfy the duty – always download fresh from gov.uk (search "How to Rent") rather than reusing a saved copy.
- Keep evidence. A dated email or a signed acknowledgement in your records is what settles arguments later.
Why it matters more since May 2026
Under the old regime the sanction was sharp but narrow: without the guide you could not serve a valid Section 21 notice. Section 21 is gone, but the guide has moved into the Renters' Rights Act's information-duty framework – part of the documents a landlord must give tenants alongside the written tenancy information, with local-authority enforcement and fines behind the regime rather than a single blocked notice. Treat it as one item on the same checklist as the gas certificate, EICR and deposit paperwork: served at the start, evidenced, and refreshed when the government updates it.
The complete "give the tenant" list for 2026
- Written tenancy information / agreement – before signing (fines up to £7,000).
- The current How to Rent guide.
- Gas safety certificate (where there are gas fittings).
- Electrical safety report (EICR).
- Energy performance certificate.
- Deposit prescribed information – within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
The full timeline, from marketing to mid-tenancy duties, is in our landlord compliance checklist.
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Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
Where do I download the How to Rent guide?
From gov.uk – search "How to Rent". Download it at the point you need it so you always serve the current edition.
Do I need to re-serve the guide when it's updated?
The trigger is a new tenancy: serve the current version at the start. When the government publishes an update mid-tenancy, re-serving is good practice and costs nothing, and it removes any argument about which version applied.
Does the How to Rent guide apply in Wales or Scotland?
No – it is an England document. Wales and Scotland have their own tenant information requirements under their own housing law.