Epiclet
Sign in Start free

Free tool · England · updated 2026

Landlord compliance checklist

Answer nine questions about a property and get a dated checklist of what the law requires, with the legal basis and a source for every item. Print it, or save it to a free desk for reminders.

Add certificate dates (optional, for exact due dates)

The full landlord compliance checklist

Every item for a let property in England, checked 16 Oct 2026. Answer the questions above to date it for your property.

  1. Gas safety record (CP12)

    To do

    Every 12 months

    A Gas Safe registered engineer checks every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide. Give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in. Keep records for at least 2 years.

    Legal basis: Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 36. Source · Due date calculator

  2. Electrical safety report (EICR)

    To do

    At least every 5 years

    A qualified electrician inspects and tests the installation. Give the report to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in, and to the council within 7 days if asked. Remedial work must be done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.

    Legal basis: Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Source · Due date calculator

  3. Energy Performance Certificate

    To do

    Valid, band E or above

    You need a valid EPC, lasting 10 years, when you market the property, and a copy goes to the tenant. Today the property must be band E or above, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

    Legal basis: Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. Source · Check the EPC rating

  4. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

    To do

    Check on the first day of every new tenancy

    At least one smoke alarm on every storey with living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers). Repair or replace an alarm once you are told it is faulty.

    Legal basis: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022. Source

  5. Deposit protected, with prescribed information

    To do

    Within 30 days of taking it

    Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information, both within 30 days. If you do not, a court can order you to pay 1 to 3 times the deposit, and possession can be restricted.

    Legal basis: Housing Act 2004, sections 213 to 215. Source

  6. Renters' Rights Act written information

    To do

    Depends on the start date

    Tenancies that began before 1 May 2026: the government Information Sheet, given as a printed copy or the exact PDF attached to an email or text. A link to it is not valid. It was due by 31 May 2026. Tenancies made on or after 1 May 2026: written information about the key terms of the tenancy.

    Legal basis: Renters' Rights Act 2025. Source · Renters' Rights Act guide

  7. Right to Rent checks

    To do

    Before every new tenancy starts

    Check that every tenant or lodger aged 18 or over can legally rent in England, even if they are not named on the agreement. If someone has limited permission to stay, check in the 28 days before the tenancy starts and diarise a follow-up check. Keep copies.

    Legal basis: Immigration Act 2014, Part 3. Source

  8. Landlord database registration

    To do

    15 Dec 2026 to 14 Nov 2027, by region

    Register each property on the Private Rented Sector Database with its gas record, EICR and EPC, the number of occupants and households, any licence, and the rent. The expected fee is £65 per property per year. Councils can fine up to £7,000 for a breach, and courts can refuse most possession claims while you are in breach.

    Legal basis: Renters' Rights Act 2025, sections 82 to 92. Source · Fee calculator

  9. Property licensing

    Check

    Check with the council

    A single-household let does not need an HMO licence, but some councils run selective licensing schemes that cover every private rental in set areas. We cannot tell whether a scheme covers your street, so ask the council for the property's postcode. Find the council.

    Legal basis: Housing Act 2004, Parts 2 and 3. Source

  10. Furniture fire safety

    Check

    If you let it furnished

    Upholstered furniture and furnishings you supply must meet the fire resistance rules. Look for the permanent label, and replace anything without one.

    Legal basis: Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. Source

  11. Plan for EPC C by 2030

    Plan

    By 1 Oct 2030 (policy)

    Government policy is for every private rental to reach EPC C or equivalent by 1 Oct 2030, with regulations expected in 2027. Spending is capped at £10,000 per property, and qualifying works since 1 Oct 2025 count, so keep every invoice.

    Legal basis: Government policy, January 2026 (not yet law). Source · £10,000 cap tracker

Coming next

ChangeWhenGuide
Reformed EPCs (Home Energy Model)Second half of 2027EPC reform
PRS Landlord OmbudsmanMandatory membership expected 2028Ombudsman
EPC C equivalent for all rentals1 October 2030EPC C by 2030
£10,000 cost capWith the 2030 standard. Spend since 1 October 2025 counts.The cost cap
Decent Homes StandardEnforceable from 2035Renters' Rights Act
Awaab's Law for private rentalsTo be confirmed after consultationRenters' Rights Act

Renters' Rights Act, in force since 1 May 2026

  • No section 21. Possession needs a section 8 ground.
  • All tenancies are assured periodic tenancies.
  • Rent rises once a year by section 13 notice with at least 2 months' notice.
  • No rental bidding. No more than 1 month's rent in advance.
  • Respond to pet requests within 28 days.
  • No discrimination against tenants with children or on benefits.

A simple annual routine

  1. Monthly: check which certificates expire in the next 90 days and book renewals.
  2. At each new tenancy: give the gas record, EICR, EPC and How to Rent guidance; check alarms on day one; protect the deposit within 30 days.
  3. Annually: renew database registration and pay the fee; review rent with a section 13 notice if needed.
  4. Each year to 2030: move at least some D and E properties towards C, starting with the cheapest measures. See the cheapest route.
  5. Always: keep invoices and records in one place.

Landlord database windows by region

RegionOpensRegister by
West Midlands15 Dec 202614 Mar 2027
East of England15 Jan 202714 Apr 2027
East Midlands15 Feb 202714 May 2027
South East15 Mar 202714 Jun 2027
Yorkshire and the Humber15 Apr 202714 Jul 2027
North West15 May 202714 Aug 2027
North East15 Jun 202714 Sept 2027
London15 Jul 202714 Oct 2027
South West15 Aug 202714 Nov 2027

Get ready to register, gov.uk campaign page.

Sources

  1. Tenancy deposit protection (gov.uk)
  2. Housing Act 2004, section 213
  3. Get ready to register (government campaign page)
  4. Implementing the Renters' Rights Act 2025: roadmap
  5. Government response: improving the energy performance of privately rented homes
  6. HSE: gas safety for landlords
  7. Electrical safety standards guidance (gov.uk)
  8. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms booklet (gov.uk)
  9. The new Decent Homes Standard: policy statement
  10. Check your tenant's right to rent (gov.uk)
  11. HMO licences (gov.uk)

Questions

What does a landlord legally need in England?

For each let property: a gas safety record every 12 months where there is gas, an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, a valid EPC at band E or above, smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms where required, deposit protection within 30 days, Right to Rent checks, the Renters' Rights Act written information, and any licence your council requires. From 15 Dec 2026 you also need to register on the landlord database.

What is new for landlords in 2026?

The Renters' Rights Act tenancy reforms from 1 May 2026, the Information Sheet for existing tenancies by 31 May 2026, and the Private Rented Sector Database from 15 Dec 2026, starting in the West Midlands.

How much is the landlord database fee?

£65 per property per year, set by draft regulations. Use the fee calculator for your portfolio.

Do I need a licence to let my property?

A large HMO, let to 5 or more people forming more than one household who share facilities, needs a mandatory licence. Councils can also require licences for smaller HMOs and, in selective licensing areas, for any private rental. Ask the council for the property's postcode.

When must my rentals reach EPC C?

1 Oct 2030, under government policy confirmed in January 2026. Regulations are expected in 2027, so it is not law yet.

Can I print the checklist?

Yes. Answer the questions, then use Print or save as PDF. The printed version carries the date it was prepared.

Epiclet is a records tool and introducer, not a law firm, an installer or a government service. Results are estimates to help you plan, not legal advice. Rules change, so check gov.uk before you act.