The How to Rent Guide has been a cornerstone of the English Private Rented Sector (PRS) for over a decade. Now, following the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act on May 1st, 2026, the Guide will be replaced as part of a broader overhaul of how tenancy information is communicated.
Originally introduced to provide tenants with essential information about their rights as they move into their new home, the How To Rent Guide carried a legal obligation for landlords: failing to provide the guide at the right time could invalidate a lot of the processes landlords and letting agents relied on.
This blog breaks down why the guide is being replaced, and what the changes will mean for both tenants and landlords in the years ahead.
Before the Renters' Rights Act, the How to Rent guide played a formal role in the legal setup of most private tenancies in England. Landlords were legally required to provide the latest version of the guide to tenants at the start of a new tenancy, and in some cases when it was renewed. If the guide wasn’t served correctly, landlords could be prevented from using certain legal routes to regain possession of their property, particularly through Section 21 notices (these notices were also abolished under the Act).
Beyond its legal function, the guide was designed as a practical introduction to renting. It outlined key topics such as deposit protections, what tenants could expect in terms of property standards and repairs, and how to raise concerns or complaints. It also explained the responsibilities tenants took on, including paying rent on time and maintaining the property in a reasonable condition.
In practice, the guide acted as a baseline information document for living in a rented home. While you couldn't guarantee that the tenant would read the whole thing, it ensured that important rights and obligations were clearly documented from the outset. This made it a central part of the private renting process, bridging the gap between legal advice and everyday understanding for both tenants and landlords.
The replacement of the How to Rent guide formed part of a wider overhaul of the Private Rented Sector in England, driven by reforms under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. The existing framework had been in place for many years, but it increasingly reflected an older model of renting that was set to change significantly.
One of the main drivers for reform was the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. This change fundamentally altered how assured shorthold tenancies ended and reduced the need for guidance that focused heavily on eviction procedures under the previous system. As a result, the existing guide began to feel increasingly misaligned with the legal responsibilities and reality tenants and landlords were expected to operate under.
In addition, the original guide was a static document on the Government’s website that required updates but could not easily reflect systemic legal changes like the Renters' Rights Act. As the private rented sector evolved, there was a growing expectation for clearer, more streamlined, and more up-to-date communication tools that better matched modern tenancy rules.
Ultimately, the move to replace the guide was positioned as part of a broader effort to modernise the renting experience, ensuring that official guidance aligned more closely with the updated legal framework and reduced confusion during the transition to the new system.
As part of the renting reforms on 1st May, the How to Rent guide was replaced by a new statutory information document introduced under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
From the 1st May, 2026, landlords are required to provide tenants with the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. Tenants in existing tenancies will need to be provided with the Information Sheet by the 31st May, 2026.
This document is designed specifically for the new legal framework and must be issued to both existing and new tenants before Sunday, 31st May. It replaces the role previously played by the “How to Rent” guide in ensuring tenants receive mandatory written information about their rights and tenancy terms.
Unlike the older guide, the new Information Sheet is closely tied to reformed tenancy agreements, including the move to assured periodic tenancies and the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. It summarises the key legal changes rather than providing broad general advice, reflecting the updated legal reality of renting in England.
The traditional How to Rent guide has been phased out in favour of a legally defined, standardised information sheet system that reflects the new tenancy rules introduced by the 2025 reforms.
The replacement of the How to Rent guide under the Renters’ Rights reforms introduces practical changes for both landlords and tenants, particularly as the system moves towards a new legal framework under the Act.
For landlords, the main impact is compliance. The introduction of the new Information Sheet means they must ensure they are issuing the correct, up-to-date document at the right stage of a tenancy. Failure to do so could lead to legal complications, particularly where compliance is tied to the tenancy process.
There is also a broader administrative shift. As the rental system moves away from Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and towards a more secure tenancy structure, landlords are required to familiarise themselves with new rules and ensure their documentation reflects the updated legal environment.
Even in cases where the landlord uses a managing agent, the risk remains. Landlords will still be on the hook for potential fines if their agent fails to send out the Information Sheet on time.
For tenants, the change is intended to improve clarity and consistency. The new information sheet is designed to present key rights and tenant responsibilities in a clearer, more legally aligned format, making it easier to understand how the reformed system works. This includes clearer explanations of tenancy rights, deposit protections, and the new rules governing how and when tenancies can end.
However, the transition period may still create some confusion. During the rollout of the new system, tenants may encounter different formats of official information depending on when their tenancy began. This makes it important for tenants to check that they have received the most current guidance relevant to their agreement.
The replacement of the How to Rent guide marks a significant shift in how tenancy information is delivered within the English private rented sector. While the guide itself has long served as a key reference point for both landlords and tenants, its structure and focus were built around a legal framework that is now being fundamentally reformed under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
The move towards a standardised Information Sheet reflects a broader effort to modernise and simplify how rental rights and responsibilities are communicated. Rather than relying on a general guidance document that required regular updates, the new approach embeds information directly within the legal framework of the reformed tenancy system.
For landlords, this means adjusting to new compliance requirements and ensuring that correct documentation is issued consistently throughout the tenancy lifecycle. For tenants, it offers the potential for clearer, more consistent information that better reflects the realities of the updated rental landscape.
Ultimately, this transition is not just about replacing a document, but about aligning tenant information with a fundamentally different model of renting, one designed to be more transparent, more secure, and more consistent for everyone involved in the private rented sector.