UPDATE: Government delays publication of How to Rent Guide
A revised version of the renting checklist – which must be issued by both letting agents and landlords to new tenants or those renewing – was due to be published on Friday morning.
The publication of the much awaited How to Rent Guide has been delayed by civil servants at the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
An updated version of the renting checklist – which must be issued by both letting agents and landlords to new tenants or those renewing – was due to be published this morning and was expected to include small revisions such as new 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.
A DLUHC spokesperson tells The Neg that “it is important that we provide accurate and information guidance to landlords and tenants – we are working closely with the sector to produce updated versions of our ‘how to rent’ and ‘how to let’ guides and expect final versions to be published shortly”.
LOBBYING
Now Propertymark, which had been lobbying government to speed up its publication, says that they have been told by the Department (main picture) that it will no longer be published today.
Agents were left dumbfounded this morning after the How to Rent Guide failed to appear as planned on the government website.

Phillip Ilic, Property Management Director at Bath-based Property Link Estates, commented: “According to this latest guide published today dated December 2020 we are still in an outbreak of the COVID Pandemic!
“Better get our masks and sterile gloves back on before handing out a copy to today’s tenants that are moving in.
“When the correct version is finally issued all those tenants whose tenancies have started from today will have a defence to S21 notice being valid.
“In fact, it is impossible to give the correct version before today’s tenancies start because it would have had to have been given out yesterday – a day before it was published. Usual shambles, nothing changes.”
The date should be clearly displayed on the front of the document.”

And Jason Davies, of West Yorkshire-based Davies Properties, added: “In my opinion, the version number/date should be clearly displayed on the front of the document, so that we can ensure we’re using the latest version.
“The current document which is accessed through The Government website, still shows ‘December 2020’ on page 2, even following other minor revisions which were introduced after December 2020. And why print the date on page 2?
“Without a clear/visible date, you can guarantee that there will be hundreds if not thousands of the wrong leaflets handed out to tenants.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that solicitors/courts will be looking for loopholes to throw out a Section 21 if the wrong version has been issued.”
It’s vital that agents have clarity.”

Nathan Emerson, Chief Executive of Propertymark, told The Neg: “We understand that DLUHC have delayed publishing the latest How to Rent Guide. It’s vital that agents have clarity to ensure they issue the latest version of the document.
“We will continue to work with the UK Government and inform the industry of any further updates.”
The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities has been approached for comment.