Information for tenants
How to Rent guide: no longer required from 1 May 2026
The How to Rent guide is withdrawn. Landlords no longer need to give it for tenancies under the new system; the old duty was tied to section 21, which has been abolished.
- Status
- No longer applies, ended 30 April 2026
- Penalty
- See below
Who it applies to
Historic duty for assured shorthold tenancies. It is retained only where a section 21 notice was served before 1 May 2026 and the transitional rules keep that notice alive.
What you must do
No action for new or converted tenancies. Do not treat How to Rent as a current compliance item. The October 2023 edition is the last version and applies only to legacy section 21 cases.
- Deadline
Ongoing
Obligation ended 30 April 2026.
If you do not comply
- Other consequences
- Not applicable since 1 May 2026.
The law
Official guidance
- How to rent (withdrawn)gov.uk
- Get on top of the renting changes (MHCLG landlord campaign page)housinghub.campaign.gov.uk
Notes
Status kept as in_force only so consumers can show it as an expired obligation (effective_to 2026-04-30). GOV.UK withdrew the guide on 1 May 2026 and directs tenants to the MHCLG tenant campaign site. Any checker still listing How to Rent as a requirement is out of date.
Other information for tenants rules
3 rules- Give the written statement of terms before a new tenancy is agreedIn force since 1 May 2026Fine up to £7,000
For any assured tenancy created on or after 1 May 2026 you must give the tenant prescribed written information about the key terms before the tenancy is signed or agreed. It can be part of the written tenancy agreement.
- Oral tenancies from before 1 May 2026: written statement of terms due by 31 May 2026In force since 1 May 2026Fine up to £7,000
If a tenancy that existed before 1 May 2026 had no written record of its terms, you had to give the tenant the written statement of key terms by 31 May 2026. If you missed it, the breach continues until you give it.
- Give existing tenants the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 (deadline 31 May 2026)In force since 1 May 2026Fine up to £7,000
For tenancies that started before 1 May 2026 with a written agreement, you had to give every named tenant the government's official Information Sheet PDF by 31 May 2026. If you missed it, the breach continues until you give it.