Tenancy Information Sheet — Service Record

Record sheet documenting service on a tenant of the statutory tenancy information sheet that replaced the How to Rent booklet from 1 May 2026. Captures the version served, the date, the method of service and tenant acknowledgement — the evidence a court will want to see in possession proceedings.

*Evidence of service of the statutory tenancy information sheet (RRA 2025)*

Last reviewed: 2026-06-09. Next review: 2026-09-09.

Service record

Complete one record per tenant per occasion the statutory tenancy information sheet (or, for tenancies created before 1 May 2026, the version of the How to Rent guide then in force) was served. Keep this record with the tenancy file for at least 6 years — it is the evidence a court will want to see if possession is later sought.

What this is

Until 1 May 2026, landlords in England had to give every new tenant of an assured shorthold tenancy a copy of the GOV.UK 'How to Rent' booklet that was in force at the time. Failure to serve invalidated a later Section 21 notice (Deregulation Act 2015 s.38, inserting s.21A into the Housing Act 1988).

From 1 May 2026 the How to Rent booklet has been withdrawn and replaced by the statutory tenancy information sheet published under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Service of the new sheet on every tenant at the start of the tenancy is the equivalent compliance step. Keep the served version and this record to evidence compliance.

Good-practice notes

• Always download the current document fresh from GOV.UK at the start of each tenancy — do not re-use an older copy.
• Email service is only valid where the tenant has previously given written consent to receive notices and documents by email (Housing Act 1988 s.45 read with the prescribed-form regulations).
• Keep a PDF copy of the exact version served alongside this record — the document is updated periodically and the court will want to see the version that was in force on the service date.
• If multiple joint tenants are named on the tenancy, serve and record a copy for each tenant separately.
• Retain this record for at least 6 years after the tenancy ends.

Historic tenancies (pre-1 May 2026)

For tenancies created before 1 May 2026, the historic 'How to Rent' booklet that was in force at the time remains the relevant document for evidence purposes. If you served How to Rent rather than the new tenancy information sheet, note the booklet's version date in the field above and keep a PDF of that historic version.

Sources: - GOV.UK — Renters' Rights Act 2025: information for landlords and tenants — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-renters-rights-act-information-sheet-2026 - GOV.UK — How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England (historic) — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent - Renters' Rights Act 2025 (legislation.gov.uk) — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/26/contents - Deregulation Act 2015 section 21A (legislation.gov.uk) — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/20/section/38