Updated ‘How to Rent Guide’ published tomorrow

Updated ‘How to Rent Guide’ published tomorrow

11:36 AM, 16th March 2023, About 2 years ago 9

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An updated How to Rent Guide will be published tomorrow (Friday), and this version is the one that must be issued by landlords and letting agents to new tenants and those renewing contracts.

The guide is the checklist for renting in England and should landlords and agents not issue the correct and current version, it can invalidate a Section 21 notice used to regain possession.

Propertymark says it believes that the guide should be reviewed and republished by the UK Government every year to ensure the sector knows when an updated version will be released.

‘The How to Rent Guide is an important document’

Nathan Emerson, Propertymark’s chief executive, said: “The How to Rent Guide is an important document, and we are pleased to have worked with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the revisions and release date.

“It is vital that agents operating in England are aware of the updated version and the implications on the tenancies they manage.

“The latest version must be provided to tenants for new tenancies and renewals although it is advisable to provide the updated version to tenants in ongoing tenancies.”

Landlords and agents email a copy of the guide

Propertymark also highlights that many landlords and agents don’t hand tenants a hard copy of the guide – instead they email a version.

The new version of the guide is expected to include updated information on Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and changes to the Code of Practice on Right to Rent Civil Penalty Scheme for landlords and their agents.

It is also thought that the guide will have advice on Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) that must be provided to tenants and will have information on fitting smart meters.

There will also be a section on ensuring the property is suitable if a tenant has a disability.

The Government says the new versions of its How to Rent and How to Let guides will be available on the gov.uk website.


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DAMIEN RAFFERTY

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15:12 PM, 16th March 2023, About 2 years ago

Mr Nathan Emerson,
" Propertymark also highlights that many landlords and agents don’t hand tenants a hard copy of the guide – instead they email a version."
As we now live in a digital age would emailing the new 17th March 2023 version of the How to Rent guide to Tenants be considered served ?
" Propertymark says it believes that the guide should be reviewed and republished by the UK Government every year to ensure the sector knows when an updated version will be released. "
If we HAVE to provide a hard copy to every tenant every year as Propertymark propose will you be planting a new forest every year to replace the thousands of trees that would need to be chopped down ? Printer Ink, Postage,Time involved ETC
More costs to the Landlord and hence more costs to the Tenant

JamesB

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8:25 AM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DAMIEN RAFFERTY at 16/03/2023 - 15:12Per the guide itself:
The landlord must provide you with:
A copy of this guide ‘How to rent: the checklist for renting in England’ when a new tenancy starts as a
printed copy or, if you agree, via email as a PDF attachment.

What constitutes the tenant agreeing?

Anyone want to place a guess on how many tenants actually read this document which just seems to keep changing version to try to trip landlords up? 1 in 20?, 1 in 100?. Certainly I have never had a tenant ask me any of the things that they should be checking about a landlord.

DAMIEN RAFFERTY

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11:54 AM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

Most tenants will be unaware of this requirement but you can bet you house on it that Shelter, CAB and every other housing charity will be pointing this out to tenants who have been served notice to vacate.
You may have sent dozens of emails when setting up the tenants and doing all the legal notices and paperwork BUT this will not be acceptable to the Tenant when it goes to court and the judge agrees with the Tenant.
New 2023 version due out today so please every landlord email a copy to your tenants ASAP

Reluctant Landlord

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14:00 PM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

once a min 6 month AST goes into a contractual periodic then it is really necessary to issue the latest H2R guide as 'standard'?

For S8 or S21 purposes I understand it as the requirement to be the last version served. So if for instance the AST went contractually periodic on 1 April (the day after the initial 6 months passed) and a new H2R guide came in on 1 June, I would need to have served new 1 June version before a S21 is sent to the tenant.

What if the a second H2R guide was issued on 1 July?

Would I need to have served ONLY the 1 June (latest) version or both the 1 June AND 1 July version as both were issued after the initial term expired before I send out a S8/S21?

Freda Blogs

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18:48 PM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

I send mine by email via e-signing software along with the rest of the tenancy docs, so I get an audit trail of delivery/receipt, and tenants are required to sign to confirm they've received it. This is far more eco-friendly than a printed version and also safeguards me from tenants denying they've been provided with it.

I don't think it is necessary to provide a printed copy.

DAMIEN RAFFERTY

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19:00 PM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

Please Guys " Don't Think "
Shelter will love you thinking that it's OK to send via email !
What does the government say is acceptable ?

Freda Blogs

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19:08 PM, 17th March 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DAMIEN RAFFERTY at 17/03/2023 - 19:00
The following is the wording from the current version (Dec 2020).

"The landlord, or the letting agent, should give the
current version of this guide to the tenant when a new
assured shorthold tenancy starts. There is no
requirement for a landlord to provide the document
again if the assured shorthold tenancy is renewed,
unless the document has been updated."

This does not say whether printed or digital versions are/not allowable or preferred. Until there is evidence to the contrary, it looks to me as though an email version is fine.

DAMIEN RAFFERTY

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10:20 AM, 18th March 2023, About 2 years ago

The new version comes out next Friday the 24th

David Houghton

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9:14 AM, 22nd March 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DAMIEN RAFFERTY at 16/03/2023 - 15:12
The way past this is to make email a contractual method of service in the tenancy
Ask tenants to agree to receive a copy by email, then acknowledge receipt by email back.

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