How to Rent Guide: Withdrawn from 1 May 2026
The government's How to Rent guide has been withdrawn and is no longer required for new tenancies. It has been replaced by updated guidance under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
This document has been withdrawn
As of 1 May 2026, the How to Rent guide has been withdrawn by the government and is no longer up to date. For current guidance, the government directs landlords and tenants to information on assured periodic tenancies.
What replaces it?
Landlords must now provide the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet instead. This is a new government document covering tenants' rights under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
The Information Sheet must be provided to all new tenants at the start of the tenancy, and to all existing tenants by 31 May 2026.
What about existing tenancies?
The How to Rent guide has been retained only for tenancies where the landlord served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026. For all other tenancies, it is no longer required.
If you previously provided the How to Rent guide to tenants, you do not need to take any action regarding that document. However, you do need to provide the new Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet to all existing tenants by 31 May 2026.
Proving delivery still matters
Just as with the old How to Rent guide, proving that your tenant received the new Information Sheet is critical. Under the Renters' Rights Act, non-compliance with document provision can result in civil penalties of up to £40,000 and weaken your position in Section 8 possession proceedings.
Timestamped proof of delivery — showing exactly when the tenant viewed and acknowledged the document — is far stronger than simply emailing it and hoping for the best.
How HouseFile helps
Share the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet through HouseFile and get a timestamped log of when your tenant accessed it. Tenants can acknowledge receipt, creating an auditable record. All compliance documents are organised in one place per property.