Should Landlords Give Tenants Their Personal Number? (UK, 2026)

No. In England a landlord must give tenants a postal address for notices, but GOV.UK says you do not have to give a phone number; if you want tenants to call or text about repairs, use a separate phone number for tenants (a property line on the phone you already have), and keep it for every tenancy.

If you run an HMO, the rules are different: any contact number you have must be displayed in the property, which is one more reason to use a separate number.

The short version

Here is the landlord picture in five lines.

• No phone number required in England. You must give a postal address for notices; a phone number and email are optional.
• HMO managers must display any contact number they have, in a prominent place in the property.
• OpenRent hides your details until you choose to share them (for example in an auto-reply).
• A separate property number keeps tenants, applicants and contractors off your personal phone.
• Keep the same property number across tenancies (plan active, number in regular use), so every new tenant gets a line that already belongs to the property.

Do landlords have to give tenants a phone number?

In England, no. You must give a name and a postal address for notices. A phone number is optional. This guide covers England first. Check the guidance or get advice if you are unsure.

What contact details must a landlord give in England?

Under section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, a landlord must give an address in England and Wales where the tenant can serve notices. Section 47 also requires the landlord's name and address on written rent demands. A phone number does not count for either of those duties.

GOV.UK's final guidance on written information that must be given to tenants (published 20 March 2026, for new tenancies from 1 May 2026) says: "You do not have to provide your phone number or email address. You can choose to include these if you would like the tenant to be able to contact you by phone or email." Shelter England's page on landlord and tenant details makes the same point: the agreement does not have to include phone or email details. You still need the written information required for tenancies from 1 May 2026. This is not legal advice; check the guidance or get advice if unsure.

What about HMOs?

For houses in multiple occupation in England, the Management of HMOs (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 3 says the manager must make their name, address and any telephone contact number available to each household, and display them in a prominent position in the HMO. If you have a contact number, it goes on the wall. A property number on that notice is far better than your personal mobile shared across several households.

Is it different in Scotland?

In Scotland, gov.scot supporting notes on private residential tenancy statutory terms say phone numbers are not essential but can be useful in an emergency. This guide does not cover Wales or Northern Ireland in detail; follow your own nation's guidance.

howing that landlords in England must give a name and a postal address for notices, while a phone number and email are optional, with a note that HMOs must display any contact number

Why not just give tenants your personal mobile?

You can, but it spreads. Tenants and applicants call and message at any hour. WhatsApp chats with tenants get messy as a portfolio grows (from Reddit comments on r/uklandlords). Ex-tenants can still message after a deposit dispute (another Reddit comment thread on r/uklandlords). Your personal number also lives on in every past tenant's and contractor's phone. A property line takes that traffic instead.

Where does a property number go?

Use one number for everything about the property:

• OpenRent auto-reply. OpenRent's Help Centre says enquiries are passed on by email and "The contact details of you and the tenant will remain hidden." Landlords on an OpenRent Community forum thread often share a number through the auto-reply when they want applicants to call.
• Tenancy paperwork, when you choose to include a phone number.
• Repair reporting, so tenants know who to text or call.
• Your letting agent's details, if an agent holds a contact number for you.
• Contractors and tradespeople working on the property.
• The HMO notice, if you manage an HMO and display a contact number.

How do you keep one number across tenancies?

The number belongs to the property, not the tenant. Use it for viewings, the tenancy, repairs, move out and the next tenant. That way each new household gets the same line, and your personal mobile never appears on paperwork or in applicant chats.

Keep your plan active and use the number regularly. Inovo Second Number numbers are tied to active accounts: if your account is closed or the number expires due to inactivity, it is released and cannot be recovered (see the live FAQ). Do not treat the number as something you can leave idle and reclaim later.

What are your options for a property number?

Three common routes suit private landlords. Inovo Second Number is one person's own line for one-to-one calls and texts, not a team inbox or answering service.

A second number app on your phone

A second number app such as Inovo Second Number gives you a UK number for calls and texts over Wi-Fi or mobile data, with no SIM. It suits one landlord's own property line on iPhone and Android. See how a second number works without a SIM.

An eSIM or second SIM

A second mobile line on an eSIM or dual-SIM phone works on ordinary mobile signal. SecondSim has a landlord industry page describing that route; any claim there is SecondSim's, not something we have tested.

A letting agent or answering service

If someone must always answer (a larger portfolio, or cover when you travel), use a letting agent or an answering service such as Voco. Inovo Second Number is not that: it is one landlord's own line, person to person only, with about 20 outbound texts a day (see the FAQ).

For a full comparison of UK options, see our UK second number for business guide. For the wider picture of a work line without a second handset, see a business phone line without a second phone.

How do you handle out of hours calls without being on call?

Tell tenants in writing which issues are emergencies, and that fire, gas or danger to life go to emergency services first. Mute the property line outside your hours with your phone's Focus or Do Not Disturb settings. Give a backup contact if you travel. (These are generic phone features; do not assume an app adds business hours or voicemail unless you confirm it in the app.)

Will a second number receive codes for landlord apps and portals?

Inovo Second Number receives verification codes from most services, not all. Keep your bank and HMRC on your main number. If a portal refuses an internet number, see what to do when a website won't accept your VoIP number.

How do you set up a property number with Inovo Second Number?

Download the app, sign in, pick a UK number and label it with the property name. Four steps:

1. Download Inovo Second Number from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android.
2. Sign in with the option shown in the app.
3. Choose the United Kingdom and pick a number. (The 07700 900456 in our images is a fictional example from the range Ofcom keeps for TV and film.)
4. Label it with the property name, so you know at a glance which number a call or text came in on.

It is person to person only, so it suits one landlord's own line, not group texts to every tenant.

FAQ

Do landlords have to give tenants a phone number in the UK?

In England, no. GOV.UK guidance on the written information landlords must give says you do not have to provide your phone number or email address, but you must give a postal address in England or Wales where the tenant can send legal notices. Many landlords still share a number so tenants can report repairs.

What contact details must a landlord give a tenant?

Your name and a postal address in England or Wales where notices can be served, under section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. Written rent demands must also show your name and address. The address can be a business or agent's address rather than your home.

Should I give my tenant my personal mobile number?

You don't have to. A separate property number on the phone you already have lets tenants reach you about repairs while your personal number stays private, and it stays the same when tenants change.

Do HMO landlords have to display a phone number?

In England, the HMO management regulations say the manager must make their name, address and any telephone contact number available to each household and display them in a prominent position in the HMO. Using a separate number means the one on the wall is not your personal mobile.

Does OpenRent show my phone number to tenants?

OpenRent's Help Centre says your contact details stay hidden and enquiries are passed on to you by email. Landlords who want applicants to call often put a number in their auto-reply, which is a good place for a separate property number.

Can I keep the same property number for every tenancy?

Yes, if you choose a provider that lets you keep the number. Inovo Second Number numbers are tied to active accounts: if your account is closed or the number expires due to inactivity, it is released and cannot be recovered, so keep your plan active and use the number regularly, then pass the same number to each new tenant.

Is it legal to use a second number app as a landlord?

Yes. Using a second number for your own calls and texts is legal in the UK. What matters is what you use it for, as with any phone. Our guide to whether second phone number apps are legal and safe covers this in more detail.

Give tenants a number, not yours. Inovo Second Number adds a real UK number to the phone you already have, for calls and texts with tenants, applicants and contractors, kept apart from your personal line. Download it on the App Store or Google Play and see plans in the app.