The How to Rent guide is no longer something landlords give to new tenants. The government withdrew it on 1 May 2026 because of the changes made by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. On that date every assured shorthold tenancy became an assured periodic tenancy, and the paperwork landlords must give tenants changed with it. This guide explains what replaced the How to Rent guide, what you must give tenants now, and where the old guide still has a part to play.
What replaced the How to Rent guide
Two documents took its place, depending on when the tenancy started:
- Tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026: written information about the key terms of the tenancy, given before the tenancy agreement is signed or the tenancy is agreed. It can sit inside a written agreement or be given separately.
- Tenancies that already existed on 1 May 2026: where there was a written agreement, the landlord had to give every named tenant The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026. Where the agreement was oral, the landlord had to give the written information instead, by the same date.
Failing to give the required written information can lead to a fine of up to £7,000. The government's guidance on written information for your tenant sets out exactly what is needed.
How the information sheet must be given
The government is specific about this, and a sheet given the wrong way does not count:
- Give a copy to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.
- Post it, hand it over in print, or send the PDF itself as an attachment to an email or text message.
- Do not send a link to the PDF. The government says a link is not valid.
- Use the copy downloaded from the gov.uk page, because only that version is valid.
- Where a letting agent manages the property, the agent must give the sheet, even if the landlord has also given it.
If a tenancy that existed on 1 May 2026 never received the sheet, give it now in the correct way and keep a dated record.
What happened to the How to Rent guide
The How to Rent guide was the government's checklist for people renting a home in England, and landlords had to give tenants the current version at the start of a tenancy. On 1 May 2026 gov.uk marked the How to Rent guide as withdrawn and not up to date, and pointed readers to the guidance on assured periodic tenancies instead.
Why the How to Rent guide used to matter
Under the old rules, a landlord who had not given the tenant the current How to Rent guide could not serve a valid Section 21 notice. A paperwork miss could block possession entirely. That link ended with Section 21 itself: on 1 May 2026 assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies, and possession now runs through a Section 8 ground, with evidence.
Where the old guide still has a part to play
Only in the history of older possession claims. A Section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026 could only be used to start court proceedings up to 31 July 2026, so no new claim can be started on one now. Where a claim was issued in time, the case continues until it ends, and whether the guide was given can still be relevant to that case. For every current tenancy, the written information or the information sheet is what counts.
Safety and deposit documents still apply
The change of paperwork did not remove the other documents tenants must receive. Keep giving and recording the EPC, the current gas safety record, the current EICR, and the deposit protection certificate with the prescribed information, and test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on the first day of the tenancy. Our compliance calendar tracks each one.
How AIHPG keeps landlords compliant
For every tenancy we manage, we prepare the written terms before the tenancy is agreed, give tenants the documents the law requires in the form the law accepts, and keep proof of delivery on file. The EPC, gas safety, EICR and deposit paperwork are kept current alongside it, so a council or a court never finds a gap.
Never miss a compliance deadline
From the written statement of terms to gas safety, EICR and deposit protection. We give tenants the right documents at the right time, with proof, for every tenancy we manage.
Let us handle compliance →Frequently asked questions about the How to Rent guide
Is the How to Rent guide still required?
No. The government withdrew the How to Rent guide on 1 May 2026 because of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. New tenancies need written information about the key terms instead, and tenancies that existed on 1 May 2026 needed The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026.
What replaced the How to Rent guide?
For tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, written information about the key terms, given before the tenancy is agreed. For tenancies that existed on 1 May 2026 with a written agreement, The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, given to every named tenant by 31 May 2026. Failing to provide it can mean a fine of up to £7,000.
Can I email the information sheet to my tenant?
Yes, but attach the PDF itself to the email or text message. The government says sending a link to the PDF is not valid. You can also post it or hand over a printed copy. Use the version downloaded from the gov.uk page, and give a copy to every tenant named on the agreement.
What if I missed the 31 May 2026 deadline?
Give the information sheet now, in one of the ways the government accepts, to every named tenant, and keep a dated record of how and when you gave it. The deadline has passed, so a council could still take action for the missed date, but putting it right promptly is the sensible next step.
Does the How to Rent guide still matter for Section 21?
Only for claims already in court. A Section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026 could only be used to start proceedings up to 31 July 2026. No new claim can be started on one now, so for current tenancies the How to Rent guide no longer plays any part in possession.
This guide is general information for landlords. Check the current gov.uk guidance before each new tenancy, because it is updated as further parts of the Renters' Rights Act come into force.
