A solicitors’ firm claims 72% of tenants did not receive the official government How To Rent scheme when they moved in.

The survey by Birkenhead-based PHR Solicitors was relatively small – only 559 responses – but shows a strong majority of tenants not receiving the guide, despite this being mandatory at the start of a tenancy since 2015. 

The guide provides tenants with information about their rights and responsibilities as a renter, including the agent’s and/or landlord’s obligations. 

A landlord who fails to provide the guide or an outdated version may not be able to serve a valid Section 21 notice and non-compliance can lead to fines and potential legal disputes. 

The solicitors’ survey found that compliance was lowest among older tenants, with 82% of those over 70 reporting that they had not received the guide. Younger tenants were also affected, with 79% of 30 to 39-year-olds stating they had not been given the document. In contrast, 60–69-year-olds were the most likely to receive one, at 37%.

Gender disparities were also identified, with women less likely to receive the guide than men. Only 26% of female tenants reported receiving the document, compared to 35% of male tenants.

Lynne Swanson, chartered legal executive at PHR Solicitors, says: “Landlords are legally required to provide the latest version of the ‘How to Rent’ guide to tenants at the start of a tenancy. Failing to do so does not just put tenants at a disadvantage – it can also prevent landlords from serving a Section 21 notice to regain possession of their property. With so many tenants reporting they never received the guide, many landlords could be exposing themselves to unnecessary legal risk.”