Landlord Compliance Checklist 2026 (England)
Letting a property in England means meeting a stack of legal obligations, several of them on recurring deadlines, and 2026 adds new duties under the Renters' Rights Act. This checklist runs through what's required, how often, and where landlords most often slip up.
Gas safety (annual)
If your property has gas appliances, you must have them checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer and obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (CP12). You must give tenants a copy within 28 days of the check, and provide it to new tenants before they move in.
A useful quirk: if you renew within the final two months of the current certificate, the new expiry date runs from the old one rather than the inspection date — so you don't lose time by renewing early.
Electrical safety — EICR (every 5 years)
Private landlords must have the fixed electrical installations inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person, and obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Tenants must receive a copy within 28 days.
If the report requires remedial work, you generally have 28 days (or sooner if specified) to complete it and confirm completion. Breaches can bring council penalties of up to £30,000.
Energy performance — EPC (every 10 years)
You need a valid Energy Performance Certificate, renewed every ten years, and currently a minimum rating of band E to let the property lawfully. Minimum energy efficiency standards have been the subject of consultation and may tighten, so track both your certificate's expiry and its band.
An in-date EPC on a property rated below the minimum is still a problem — the rating matters as much as the date.
Deposit protection (within 30 days)
If you take a deposit, you must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give the tenant the prescribed information. Get this wrong and you can face penalties of one to three times the deposit and lose the ability to regain possession by the usual route.
Right to Rent and the 'How to Rent' guide
Before the tenancy starts you must check every adult occupier's right to rent and keep records. You must also give tenants the current government 'How to Rent' guide at the start of the tenancy.
New Renters' Rights Act duties (2026 onwards)
The Renters' Rights Act, in force from 1 May 2026, brings additional obligations phasing in over the following years: a written statement of terms for new tenancies, a tenant information sheet for tenancies that pre-date the Act, mandatory PRS ombudsman membership, and registration on the new national PRS database.
Because these land in stages, the practical challenge is simply knowing which duty applies to which tenancy and by when — precisely the kind of thing that's easy to miss when you're managing it in your head.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
You must have working smoke alarms and, where there's a fixed combustion appliance, carbon monoxide alarms, and ensure they work at the start of each tenancy. An annual test is sensible practice to stay on the right side of the rules.
Frequently asked questions
Every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Renew within the final two months and the new certificate's expiry runs from the old date, so you don't lose time.
Local authorities can impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 for breaches of the electrical safety regulations.
Yes — some duties apply to tenancies that pre-date the Act's commencement, such as providing a tenant information sheet, while others apply to new tenancies. Which applies depends on when the tenancy began.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the rules as they stood when last updated (2026-07-01). Always check GOV.UK or a professional for your specific situation.