The 2026 UK Landlord Compliance Checklist

Safety certificates & checks

• 1. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)

  Every 12 months

  A Gas Safe registered engineer must check every gas appliance and flue annually. Give the tenant a copy within 28 days, and to new tenants before they move in.

  Miss it: unlimited fine / possible prosecution, and you can't rely on some possession grounds.

• 2. Electrical safety report (EICR)

  Every 5 years

  A qualified electrician must inspect the fixed wiring at least every 5 years. Give the tenant a copy of the report within 28 days.

  Miss it: fine of up to £30,000.

• 3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

  Valid 10 years

  You must have a valid EPC of at least band E to let the property, and give a copy to tenants. A rise in the minimum rating to band C is proposed for future years — worth planning for if you're band D or E.

  Miss it: fine of up to £5,000 for letting below the minimum standard.

• 4. Smoke & carbon monoxide alarms

  Check each tenancy

  At least one smoke alarm on every storey, and a CO alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (e.g. a boiler or wood burner). Make sure they work at the start of each tenancy.

  Miss it: fine of up to £5,000 from the council.

• 5. Legionella risk assessment

  Review periodically

  You have a duty to assess and manage the risk of legionella in the water system. For most homes this is a simple assessment you can record and review.

Tenancy set-up & documents

• 6. Protect the deposit

  Within 30 days

  Put any deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give the tenant the prescribed information.

  Miss it: up to 3x the deposit in compensation, and possession routes blocked.

• 7. Right to Rent checks

  Before move-in

  Check every adult occupier has the legal right to rent in England, and keep copies of the evidence.

  Miss it: civil penalty, or a criminal offence for repeated breaches.

• 8. Serve the required documents

  Start of tenancy

  Provide the current "How to Rent" guide, the EPC, and the Gas Safety Certificate. Failing to serve these can block a possession claim.

• 9. Check if you need a licence

  Council-specific

  HMOs usually need a licence, and many councils run additional or selective licensing schemes covering ordinary lets. Check your local council before letting.

  Miss it: unlimited fine and a rent repayment order of up to 12 months' rent.

• 10. Section 21 "no-fault" evictions abolished

  From 1 May 2026 you can no longer serve a Section 21 notice. Possession must now use a Section 8 ground. Review how you handle ending tenancies.

• 11. All tenancies are now periodic

  Assured shorthold and fixed-term tenancies have ended — every tenancy rolls on a periodic basis. Update your tenancy agreements and templates.

• 12. Send tenants the government Information Sheet

  Deadline passed — do now

  The deadline to give existing tenants this official written statement of their new rights was 31 May 2026. If you haven't served it, do it now — and give it to every new tenant at the start of their tenancy.

  Miss it: penalty of up to £7,000.

• 13. New rules on rent, pets and advance payment

  Rent can rise only once a year via the statutory process; you can't take more than one month's rent in advance; and you can't unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet.