Updated: April 2026 • Based on UK Law
⚠️ Renters’ Rights Act 2025 — This Document Has Changed
Section 21 “no-fault” evictions are abolished from 1 May 2026. The How to Rent guide delivery receipt was required to protect Section 21 rights — that requirement no longer applies.
Landlords must now serve the government’s Information Sheet on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026. Failure to serve it carries fines up to £7,000.
→ Read the Information Sheet Landlord Guide (replaces this document)
📋 Landlord checklist: navigating all the Renters’ Rights Act changes — or go straight to the free checklist.
What Is a How to Rent Delivery Receipt?
A How to Rent delivery receipt is a signed document proving a landlord provided the government’s “How to Rent” guide to a tenant. Required under the Deregulation Act 2015 for all assured shorthold tenancies in England, it protected Section 21 eviction rights. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 is abolished under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
This guide explains what the How to Rent delivery receipt was, why it no longer applies, and what has replaced it under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
⚠️ Looking for a Rent Receipt Instead?
This guide is about the How to Rent Delivery Receipt — NOT a rent payment receipt.
| Document | What It Proves | Get It Here |
|---|---|---|
| Rent Receipt | Tenant paid rent for a specific period | → Free Rent Receipt Tool |
| Information Sheet Delivery Receipt | You served the government’s Information Sheet (replaces How to Rent receipt from May 2026) | → Information Sheet Guide |
Need both? The rent receipt proves payment. The Information Sheet delivery receipt proves you served the government’s mandatory Information Sheet — with fines up to £7,000 for non-compliance.
✓ Information Sheet Delivery Receipt — What You Need Now
From 1 May 2026, the How to Rent guide is replaced by the government’s Information Sheet. Landlords must serve it on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026. Fines up to £7,000 for non-compliance. Our Renters’ Rights Essential Pack includes the Information Sheet Delivery Receipt and 25 other documents landlords need under the new rules — £99, lifetime access, lifetime updates.
→ Read the Information Sheet Landlord Guide
📋 Full landlord checklist for the Renters’ Rights Act 2026 →
What Was the How to Rent Delivery Receipt?
Under the Deregulation Act 2015, landlords in England had to provide the government’s “How to Rent” guide to all new assured shorthold tenants.
A signed delivery receipt proved the guide was provided.
Without that receipt, Section 21 eviction notices were invalid.
Courts rejected roughly 40% of Section 21 notices because landlords couldn’t prove they’d served the guide.
This was the single most common reason for Section 21 failures — ahead of deposit protection errors and gas safety certificate issues.
What Changed on 1 May 2026
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 “no-fault” evictions from 1 May 2026.
Every eviction now goes through Section 8 — which is entirely evidence-based.
Because Section 21 no longer exists, the legal requirement to prove How to Rent guide delivery no longer serves its original purpose.
The government has replaced the How to Rent guide with a new Information Sheet that must be served on all existing tenants.
The key changes:
- Section 21 abolished — no-fault evictions are gone. All evictions are now through Section 8 with specified grounds
- All tenancies are periodic — fixed-term ASTs are abolished. Every tenancy rolls month to month
- Information Sheet must be served — on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026. Fines up to £7,000 for non-compliance
- Written Statement of Terms — mandatory for all new tenancies from 1 May 2026. Fines up to £7,000
- Pet requests — landlords must respond in writing within 28 days
- Rent increases — restricted to once per year via Section 13 only
The Information Sheet — What Replaces the How to Rent Guide
The government’s Information Sheet is the direct replacement for the How to Rent guide.
It explains the tenant’s rights under the new regime — periodic tenancies, Section 8 grounds, rent increases, pet requests, and how to challenge a landlord.
Deadline: 31 May 2026.
Every landlord with existing written tenancy agreements must serve it by this date.
Failure is a civil offence with fines up to £7,000.
Step 1: Download the Official Information Sheet
The Information Sheet must be downloaded directly from GOV.UK. You cannot write your own version, summarise it, or alter it in any way.
→ Download the official Information Sheet from GOV.UK
Step 2: Serve It on Every Named Tenant
A copy must go to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.
You can serve it by email (if your tenancy agreement permits electronic service) or as a printed hard copy by post or by hand.
If you use a letting agent, they must also serve it — even if you’ve already done so yourself.
Step 3: Get Proof of Delivery — This Is Where Most Landlords Fail
The government requires you to serve the Information Sheet. But serving it without proof is the same mistake landlords made with the How to Rent guide.
40% of Section 21 notices failed because landlords couldn’t prove delivery.
The same risk applies here. If a tenant denies receiving the Information Sheet and you have no evidence of delivery, you face a £7,000 fine with no defence.
A signed delivery receipt — recording the date, the tenant’s name, the method of delivery, and the tenant’s confirmation they received it — is the strongest protection you have.
✓ Information Sheet Delivery Receipt Template
Our delivery receipt template records the date, tenant details, method of service, and signed confirmation — exactly the evidence you need if compliance is ever challenged. Included in the Renters’ Rights Essential Pack (26 templates, £99) or available as part of the pack.
For the full breakdown of every obligation, see our Information Sheet Landlord Guide.
Legacy Tenancies — Do You Still Need a How to Rent Receipt?
For tenancies that started before 1 May 2026, the receipt mattered — if you needed to serve Section 21 before the abolition date.
Going forward, Section 21 does not exist.
The How to Rent delivery receipt no longer protects any eviction rights because no-fault eviction is no longer available.
What you need now is the Information Sheet Delivery Receipt.
That proves you served the government’s new Information Sheet on existing tenants by 31 May 2026.
What Landlords Need Now — The Complete List
Since 1 May 2026, landlords face a fundamentally different set of obligations.
The How to Rent delivery receipt is just one of many documents that have changed or been replaced:
- Information Sheet Delivery Receipt — proof you served the government’s Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. Guide here
- Written Statement of Terms — mandatory for all new tenancies from 1 May 2026. Fines up to £7,000
- Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreement — the new standard tenancy replacing fixed-term ASTs
- Pet Permission Form — you must respond to pet requests in writing within 28 days
- Section 8 Evidence Builder — the only eviction route. You need documented grounds with evidence
- Late Rent Letter Pack — four escalating letters that build the arrears paper trail courts expect
The Renters’ Rights Essential Pack bundles all 26 documents landlords need — from tenancy setup to court. £99, lifetime access, free lifetime updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the How to Rent delivery receipt still required?
No. Section 21 is abolished from 1 May 2026.
The How to Rent delivery receipt existed to protect Section 21 rights. Without Section 21, the receipt has no legal function.
What has replaced the How to Rent guide?
The government’s Information Sheet.
Landlords must serve it on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026. Fines up to £7,000 for non-compliance.
See our Information Sheet Landlord Guide for the full breakdown.
Can I still use Section 21 to evict a tenant?
No. From 1 May 2026, all evictions go through Section 8.
Section 8 requires you to prove specific grounds — such as rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or the landlord needing to sell or move in.
Do I still need to provide a rent receipt?
If rent is paid in cash and the tenant requests a receipt, yes — under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Rent receipts also help build the evidence trail courts expect under Section 8 possession claims.
Use our free rent receipt generator — no account, no payment, no catch.
What is the deadline for serving the Information Sheet?
31 May 2026 — for all existing tenants.
New tenancies from 1 May 2026 onwards must receive it at the start of the tenancy.
The Truth About “Free” Legal Template Sites (What You’re Really Signing Up For)
Most websites offering a “free legal template” follow the same pattern:
- You click because it’s advertised as free
- You spend 10–15 minutes answering questions
- At the very end, you must create an account or start a “free trial”
- Your card is required upfront
- The subscription auto-renews at £29–£39 per month
This isn’t a free template – it’s a subscription service. Many people only realise after being charged £300–£400 over the year.
Why These “Free” Templates Are a Legal Risk
- Outdated wording: not aligned with current UK law
- Missing mandatory clauses: required for legal validity
- No compliance guidance: leaving users without legal context
- No structured checklist: no way to verify the document works
- Not kept updated: often unchanged when legislation changes
One incorrect clause can weaken or invalidate the entire document.
Hidden Problem: Many “Free Template” Sites Aren’t Even UK-Based
Many free or auto-subscription template sites operate outside the UK.
They use documents drafted for the US legal system, then loosely adapted for “international use,” which creates serious problems:
- Incorrect terminology: taken from US contract law
- Missing UK statutory references: essential legal requirements omitted
- Non-applicable clauses: terms that don’t apply under UK legislation
- Legal conflicts: risks breaching UK consumer, employment, or GDPR rules
Why Templates UK Does the Opposite
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See the full guide to what landlords need now: Information Sheet Landlord Guide.
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Related Guides
- Information Sheet Landlord Guide (Replaces How to Rent)
- Landlord Checklist for the Renters’ Rights Act 2026
- Renters’ Rights Essential Pack — 26 Templates for Landlords
- Residential Landlord Documents Guide UK
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Last updated: April 2026
Disclaimer: This guide provides general UK legal information, not legal advice. Laws are current as of April 2026.
