Landlords, Agents and Local Authority Housing Options or Housing Enforcement teams need to be aware that a new version of the "How to Rent" guide is expected to be published soon by the Government.

The current version was published in 2020 but new legislation affecting the residential renting sector has come in to force since then and landlords must always by able to show that they have provided to their tenant the most up to date version of the guide. Without fulfilling this requirement a landlord will not be able to successfully use the current section 21 no fault repossession procedure (which the Prime Minister yesterday confirmed would be scrapped under rental reform proposals set for next year).

Recent legislative changes include the Fire Safety Act, new Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm regulations, and the Code of Practice on Right to Rent (civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents) - right to rent rules cover whether a person has the right to rent a property in England.

Landlords should keep an eye out on the Dept for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' webpage (which has daily updates), check with their managing agent if they use one or the news page of the landlord organisation they are a member of, their Local Authority private landlord advice webpages or keep an eye out for updates in the property press.