The How to Rent Guide: What Landlords Need to Know in 2026

The How to Rent guide is a government document setting out the essentials for anyone renting a home in England, and giving it to your tenants is a legal duty, not a nicety. Get it right and you stay compliant; get it wrong and, historically, you could lose the ability to evict. But 2026 is a turning point: the Renters' Rights Act 2025 is reshaping how tenancies end, which changes what this guide means for landlords. Here's the current position on the How to Rent guide, who must receive it, and what the new law changes.

In Short

The How to Rent guide at a glance

• It's a government guide every landlord in England must give to tenants.
• Serve the current version at the start of every new tenancy (keep proof).
• Always use the latest edition, the government updates it periodically.
• The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is phasing out Section 21 'no-fault' evictions.
• Serving it correctly remains part of a landlord's core compliance paperwork.

What is the How to Rent guide?

The How to Rent guide is an official document published by the government that gives essential advice to people renting, or about to rent, a home in England. It walks tenants through what to check before renting, their rights during the tenancy, and what to expect at the end. Landlords (or their letting agents) must give the current version to all tenants when a new tenancy begins. It is updated from time to time to reflect new rules, so the version you serve matters, always use the latest.

When must you give tenants the How to Rent guide?

You should provide the current How to Rent guide at these points in the tenancy:

• New tenancies: serve the latest version whenever you grant a new tenancy.
• Renewals: if you renew and the tenant doesn't have the current edition, provide it again.
• When a new edition is published during a tenancy that continues, give the updated guide.

It can be served as a printed copy or, far more practically, as a PDF by email that the tenant can download, keep a dated record either way. You can always find the latest version on the gov.uk How to Rent page.

Why serving it correctly matters

This is not box-ticking. Under the long-standing rules, a landlord who failed to provide the current How to Rent guide could not serve a valid Section 21 notice to regain possession, meaning a simple paperwork miss could block an eviction entirely. Proof of service has therefore always been a critical part of a landlord's records. But this is exactly the area the new law is changing.

How the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes things

The biggest shift for landlords is the phasing out of Section 21 'no-fault' evictions under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. As Section 21 is removed, possession moves to a reformed Section 8 system with specified grounds, and all assured tenancies become periodic by default. That reframes the old "no guide, no Section 21" penalty, but it does not make the How to Rent guide optional. Providing required tenancy information correctly remains part of compliant letting, and getting your wider paperwork right matters more than ever as enforcement tightens. Our coverage of the Renters' Rights Act fines shows how costly compliance failures can now be.

What the guide covers for tenants

The How to Rent guide helps tenants understand the practical and legal side of renting, including:

• What to check before signing, and the documents a landlord must provide.
• Deposit protection and what to expect at the end of the tenancy.
• Safety requirements such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, gas and electrical safety.
• Repairs, responsibilities and how to raise problems.
• Where to get help if something goes wrong.

Alongside the guide, landlords must provide the core legal documents at the start of a tenancy: the EPC, deposit protection paperwork, a valid Gas Safety Record, the EICR, and evidence that alarms are working. Our compliance calendar tracks every one of these.

How AIHPG keeps landlords compliant

Serving the right How to Rent guide at the right time, with proof, is one small part of letting that quietly causes big problems when missed. We handle it as standard for every tenancy we manage, alongside the EPC, gas safety, EICR and deposit paperwork, so landlords are never the ones left explaining a paperwork gap to a court or a council. With the Renters' Rights Act 2025 raising the stakes on compliance, that peace of mind is worth more than ever.

Frequently asked questions about the How to Rent guide

What is the How to Rent guide?

It is an official government guide for England that sets out the essentials of renting a home: what to check, tenants' rights during the tenancy, and what happens at the end. Landlords must give the current version to tenants when a new tenancy starts.

When do I have to give tenants the How to Rent guide?

Provide the current version at the start of every new tenancy, again on renewal if the tenant doesn't have the latest edition, and when a new edition is published during an ongoing tenancy. Serve it in print or as an emailed PDF and keep a dated record.

What happens if I don't provide the How to Rent guide?

Historically, failing to serve the current guide meant a landlord could not use a valid Section 21 notice to regain possession. As the Renters' Rights Act 2025 phases out Section 21, possession is moving to reformed Section 8 grounds, but providing required tenancy information correctly remains a legal duty and part of compliant letting.

Does the Renters' Rights Act 2025 affect the How to Rent guide?

Yes, indirectly. The Act is removing Section 21 'no-fault' evictions and making tenancies periodic by default, which changes the old 'no guide, no Section 21' penalty. It does not make the guide optional: serving required information correctly is still part of letting compliantly, and enforcement around compliance is tightening.

Where can I get the latest How to Rent guide?

The current version is always published free on gov.uk. Always download it fresh for each new tenancy rather than reusing an old copy, because the government updates the guide periodically and you must serve the latest edition.

This guide is general information for landlords, not legal advice. The How to Rent guide, Section 21 and the Renters' Rights Act 2025 implementation are subject to change and phased commencement, check the current gov.uk guidance and seek professional advice for your specific situation.