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How to Rent guide version checker
The guide was updated nine times in a decade, and serving the wrong version is a classic possession-claim trap. Enter your tenancy start date and see which document you should have served.
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From How to Rent to the Information Sheet
From 1 October 2015, landlords in England had to serve the government’s How to Rent guide at the start of every new or renewed tenancy — specifically the version current on that day. Because the guide was revised repeatedly (2016, twice in 2018, twice in 2019, 2020, twice in 2023), “which version did you serve, and can you prove it?” became a standard line of attack against possession notices.
For tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet replaced the guide. The principle is unchanged: serve the current version, at every new tenancy, with proof of delivery.
More on this: the RRA Information Sheet explained and the How to Rent guide requirements.
General guidance for landlords in England, not legal advice. Version dates from the published How to Rent archive. Last reviewed July 2026.