The 2023 How to Rent Guide: What Landlords Need to Know

What is the How to Rent guide?

The How to Rent guide is a handy checklist that helps tenants and landlords understand how the rental process works. It provides an overview of what to consider when searching for a rental property, expectations during the tenancy, and steps to take at the end of the tenancy. The guide also summarises the rights and responsibilities of both parties. You can find the latest version of the guide here.

What's included in the How to Rent checklist?

The How to Rent checklist outlines important steps that tenants must take before the tenancy begins. These include reviewing documentation, verifying that the landlord has the appropriate licence, and checking for any prohibited fees. Additionally, tenants must ensure they receive documents such as a gas safety certificate and Energy Performance Certificate. The guide also outlines tenants' requirements, such as timely payment of rent and bills, maintaining the property, and refraining from taking in lodgers.

Why is it important for landlords to provide the latest version?

The government updates the How to Rent guide regularly, so it's important for landlords to give their tenants the most up-to-date version when they start renting. The latest updates to the guide were made on 24th March, 2023. By providing the latest version of the guide, landlords can make sure that their tenants have the most accurate and helpful information available.

Changes to the 2023 How to Rent guide:

The most recent version of the How to Rent guide includes some important changes that landlords need to be aware of. These changes include:

• UK/Irish citizens can now use Digital Identity Document Validation Technology and manual document-based checks to support Right to Rent checks with Approved Identity Service Providers.

• Landlords must now install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in properties that have a combustible gas appliance (excluding a gas cooker) to make sure tenants are safer.

• The Code of Practice on the Right to Rent Civil Penalty Scheme has been updated.

How to give the guide to your tenants:

You can share the How to Rent guide with your tenants in a few ways, you can give them a physical copy or you can send it as a PDF via email. However, if you choose to send the guide electronically, you need to make sure your tenants are okay with receiving emails about their tenancy. If the guide is updated during a tenancy or if a current tenant renews their tenancy, there's no need to provide a new copy.

What happens if you don’t provide the guide?

Not sharing the most recent version of the How to Rent guide at the start of a tenancy could make it difficult to evict a tenant using a Section 21 notice. This is due to legislation that was introduced in 2015 which requires landlords to give the latest version of the guide. For example, if you serve a Section 21 notice to a tenant who was given an out-of-date version of the guide at the start of their tenancy, you won't be able to evict them legally. So, it’s really important for landlords to keep track of any changes and provide tenants with the latest version to avoid any legal issues.