How to Rent guide rules for landlords 2026

What you must do

You must give tenants the latest government 'How to Rent' guide at the start of the tenancy, and again if a new version is published at a point where you would re-serve documents. Serving the wrong or an out-of-date version can prevent you from serving a valid possession notice. CertSafe records which version you served so you can prove compliance. Always serve the current published edition.

This is a legal obligation for private landlords in England. Keeping dated records is the simplest way to prove you have met it if a tenant, council or lender ever asks.

How often / when

At the start of each new tenancy.

CertSafe works out the exact next-due date for your property automatically once you enter when it was last done, and reminds you at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 days before — plus if anything slips overdue.

The penalty for getting it wrong

Possession notices invalidated until the correct guide is served.

Penalties are set by legislation and enforced by local authorities or the courts. They can also complicate possession, mortgage and insurance matters, which is why lenders increasingly ask to see a compliance record.

Your quick checklist

1. Find the date this was last done (or arrange it now if it hasn't been).

2. Keep the certificate or record somewhere safe and give any required copy to your tenant.

3. Diarise the next deadline — or let CertSafe track it and remind you.

Frequently asked questions