How to Rent compliance check before notice or tenancy

Quick answer for landlords

Use this page as a compliance checklist before a new tenancy, notice review, or possession route. The practical steps are simple: get the latest How to Rent guide, serve it at the right time, keep evidence of service, and check the rest of the tenancy file before you rely on any notice.

Example: if you emailed the guide before move-in, keep the email, attachment, delivery record, and version date. If you handed it over in person, keep a signed acknowledgement or a clear move-in checklist showing what was provided.

What is the How to Rent Guide?

The "How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England" is a government-published document that explains:

If you are preparing the written statement of terms at the same time, you can create a Renters' Rights Act compliant tenancy agreement for the tenancy file before you serve the How to Rent guide, or choose the upgraded premium periodic tenancy agreement builder if you need stronger management wording.

• What tenants should look for before renting
• What to expect during the tenancy
• Tenant rights and responsibilities
• What happens at the end of a tenancy
• Where to get help if things go wrong

Why Does It Matter for Landlords?

The How to Rent guide is part of the wider compliance file landlords should keep for an England tenancy. If you cannot show what was given to the tenant and when, later notice or court work becomes harder to evidence.

• A weak compliance record can slow down a possession case
• Missing service evidence creates avoidable questions if the tenant challenges the file
• New-tenancy paperwork is easier to defend when the guide, agreement, and setup records match

If you are reviewing the file before service, use the Notice Only route to check the compliance record, notice dates, grounds, and service evidence together. If you are setting up a new let, start with the England tenancy agreement packso the tenancy file is clean from day one.

When to Provide It

Provide the How to Rent guide to tenants at the start of a new England private tenancy. Best practice:

1. New tenancies: Provide before or on the day the tenancy starts
2. Renewals (same tenant): Only required if a new version has been published since you last provided it
3. New tenants in existing properties: Always provide to new tenants

How to Provide It

You can provide the How to Rent guide by:

• Email: Send as a PDF attachment or link to the gov.uk page
• Hard copy: Print and hand to the tenant
• Post: Send by post before the tenancy starts

Proving You Provided It

Keep evidence that you provided the guide. If you go to court, you may need to prove this. Options include:

• Email with delivery/read receipt
• Signed acknowledgment from the tenant
• Clause in tenancy agreement confirming receipt
• Text message confirmation

Other Prescribed Requirements

The How to Rent guide is only one part of the wider landlord compliance record. You should also keep clear evidence that you:

• Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme
• Serve the deposit prescribed information within 30 days
• Provide a valid Gas Safety Certificate
• Provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Start Notice Only once the compliance file is ready for notice checks