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It is vital that landlords remain up to date with the How To Guides that they provide to tenants. A failure to do so could lead to a landlord being unable to carry out a Section 21 Act, which could cause issues and problems for the landlord. There is a range of guides that landlords should issue to tenants, but these documents are of value to both parties. It is important to remain informed about the letting process and the information contained in these documents help to minimise problems and ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.

With respect to the How To Rent guide, this as previously published on the 26^th of June 2018. Even though this was very recent, this document is now out of date as it has been superseded by a more recent document. It is imperative that landlords issue the most recent version of the document at the beginning of a tenancy agreement.

Stay in touch with the latest changes

The key changes in the How To Rent guide are as follows:

The cover page has been amended. The subtitle of the document has been changed to ‘The checklist for renting in England’. This changed subtitle is now reflective of the wording contained in the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015.

There has also been a change on page 6 of the document, with the most recent document stating the landlord ‘should provide a record of any electrical inspections’. This is a change from the previous document stated that ‘landlords must provide…’

Minor changes can mean a lot in important documents

It may not seem like a monumental change, but it is important that the wording of documents is correct and providing proper outlines and guidance. There are currently calls being made by the consumer watchdog Which? to improve the language used in tenancy agreements. There are suggestions that many tenants have incurred costs that should have been the landlords responsibility; and clearly that is a situation that should be avoided.

There have also been changes to the How to Rent a Safe Home document. Close to the bottom of page 4, the text has been updated to stated; “If you smell gas or suspect a carbon monoxide leak”.

A change has also been found in the How To Let guide, this time at the bottom of page 3. This refers to the checklist box where the final bullet point now refers to carbon monoxide as opposed to carbon dioxide alarms.

While there are regulatory changes that landlords must adhere to with respect to these guides, the documents are useful in making informed decisions. I am here to help landlords stay informed with their industry requirements and regulations, so if you are looking for any assistance, please get in touch. Being a landlord can be a challenging role so knowing that help is available is important for many professionals in the letting sector.