Attention landlords, are you aware of the latest legislation?
Are you a landlord that tries to keep up to date with compliance and legislation changes for your properties? This critical update may have slipped past you and could cause significant issues later.
If your rental properties are managed by a letting agent, you shouldn't worry about the How To Rent Guide. Your agent will have taken care of things for you, serving it at the correct time and making sure that they are using the most up-to-date version.
But if you're a landlord that looks after your rental properties by yourself, are you aware of the How to Rent Guide? Have you ever heard of it before??? Do you know when you need to serve it and how? Do you even know where to find one?
If you've had the same tenants for many years, this new rule could have passed you by altogether, but ignorance of the law is not a defence if things go wrong.
Without proper issuing of the documentation, you could land yourself in hot water. This article will shed some light on the How To Rent Guide, how to serve it, and where you can get a copy of one.
So, what is the How To Rent Guide?
In 2014 the government introduced the How To Rent Guide, a booklet that must be issued to every tenancy. It details a checklist for tenants when they rent a property that describes their rights and responsibilities as a tenant and the legal obligations of landlords. It is free to download, but as the landlord, it is your responsibility to issue the up-to-date version to the tenants.
Where can I find a copy?
A new version of the How To Rent Guide was released on 24th March 2023. It is free to download from the government website, which you can find here.
How to serve it?
Every tenant must receive a copy of the How To Rent Guide at the beginning of the tenancy. A new tenancy may be a tenancy agreement with a brand new tenant, but it can also be renewed with an existing tenant. You can issue it either in hard copy or digitally by email. You must also ensure that you have proof that the tenant has received this to cover yourself.
What if I haven't served one?
Issuing a How To Rent Guide is relatively simple - download and print it out, or email it to the tenant at the beginning of a tenancy. But, if you don't issue it correctly or skip it altogether, the consequences to you as a landlord can be dire. You could harm your rights in the future as it will affect your ability to serve notice on the tenants to regain possession of the property.
Ensure you are up to date and all of your tenancies have received their How To Rent Guide properly - don't leave it to chance.
Legislative changes are frequent in the private rented sector. The best way to know that your tenancies are legally compliant and up to date is to employ a letting agent to handle these complicated compliance changes so that you know it is all in hand and being dealt with properly.
If you would like to discuss the management of your properties or have any questions about legislation and compliance, call our team of letting experts.