Landlord compliance checklist (England)

Every private landlord in England has a set of legal duties. Some come before you let, some on the day the tenancy starts, and some keep coming round. This checklist puts them all in one place, in order, with a link to the official source for each.

It's for private landlords in England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. Law as it stands in England, including the Renters' Rights Act changes in force since 1 May 2026.

What changed on 1 May 2026

• Every assured shorthold tenancy became an assured periodic tenancy. That means it rolls on, for example month by month, with no end date.
• Section 21 "no fault" evictions ended on 1 May 2026. To seek possession you now need a legal reason (a "ground") and a section 8 notice. Source: legislation.gov.uk: Renters' Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026, S.I. 2026/421; GOV.UK overview
• Rent can go up once a year, using the section 13 process and Form 4A.
• No rental bidding. You must advertise one rent and can't accept more.
• Rent in advance is capped at one month (or 28 days if rent is paid weekly), and only after the agreement is signed.
• "No DSS" and "No children" are not allowed from 1 May 2026. You can't turn away people because they have children or claim benefits, in adverts or when choosing a tenant. Source: legislation.gov.uk: S.I. 2026/421 (Chapter 3 of Part 1 in force 1 May 2026); GOV.UK: rental discrimination guidance
• You must consider pet requests and can refuse only with a good reason.

Source: GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act, an overview for landlords

Before you let

Check if you need a licence. If five or more people from two or more households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, the home is a large HMO (house in multiple occupation) and needs a mandatory licence. Your council may also run an additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs, or a selective licensing scheme that covers all private lets in certain areas. Check with your council before you advertise. Letting without a licence you need is an offence. Source: GOV.UK: House in multiple occupation licence

Get an EPC rated E or better. EPC means Energy Performance Certificate. You can't let a home rated F or G unless you've registered a valid exemption. An EPC lasts 10 years. The government has announced a higher standard (equal to C) for all tenancies by 1 October 2030, but that isn't law yet. Source: GOV.UK: minimum energy efficiency standard; GOV.UK: improving the energy performance of privately rented homes

Get a gas safety check. If there's any gas appliance, a Gas Safe registered engineer must check it and give you a gas safety record. You need a new check every year. Source: HSE: gas safety check records and what to keep

Get an EICR. EICR means Electrical Installation Condition Report. A qualified and competent person must inspect and test the wiring at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so. If it shows remedial work or further investigation is needed, do it within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so). Source: GOV.UK: electrical safety standards guidance

Fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. At least one smoke alarm on every storey with a room used as living space. A carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a boiler or wood burner. Gas cookers don't count. Source: GOV.UK: smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance for landlords and tenants

Assess the legionella risk. Legionella is a bacterium that can grow in water systems. You must assess and control the risk. For most ordinary homes a simple check is enough. Keep a note of what you checked, and look again if the water system changes. Source: HSE: legionella and landlords' responsibilities

Check fire safety. If you let furnished, the furniture and furnishings you supply must meet fire safety rules and carry their permanent labels. HMOs and flats with shared areas may need a written fire risk assessment for the shared parts. Source: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988; GOV.UK: renting out your property, landlord responsibilities

Advertise fairly. State one rent. Don't invite or accept bids above it. Wording like "No DSS", "No benefits" or "No children" has not been allowed since 1 May 2026. Councils can fine up to £7,000 for each breach. Source: GOV.UK: rental discrimination under the Renters' Rights Act 2025; GOV.UK: civil penalties guidance

You choose the tenant. LevelMoves never scores applicants and never chooses for you. Treat every applicant the same way and keep a note of why you decided.

Check right to rent. Before the tenancy starts, check that every adult who'll live there has the right to rent in England. Keep dated copies of what you checked. Source: GOV.UK: check your tenant's right to rent

Take only what's allowed. A holding deposit of up to one week's rent. No rent at all before the agreement is signed. After signing and before the start date, up to one month's rent (or 28 days' rent if paid weekly). A tenancy deposit of up to five weeks' rent (six weeks if the yearly rent is £50,000 or more). No other fees, apart from the few the law allows. Source: GOV.UK: fees you can charge as part of a tenancy

At the start of a tenancy

Give the written statement of terms before the tenancy is agreed. For any tenancy that starts on or after 1 May 2026, you must give the tenant certain written information about the key terms before you sign or agree it. It usually goes in the tenancy agreement. Source: The Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet (England) Regulations 2026

Protect the deposit within 30 days. Put it in a government-approved scheme (Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days of getting it. Give the tenant the prescribed information (the scheme's details and how to get the deposit back) within the same 30 days. If you don't, you can be ordered to pay the tenant up to three times the deposit, and a court may not grant you possession. Source: GOV.UK: deposit protection schemes and landlords

Give the tenant copies. Before they move in: the gas safety record, the EICR and the EPC. Sources: HSE; GOV.UK electrical safety guidance

Test the alarms on day one. Check every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm works on the day the tenancy starts, and keep a record. Source: GOV.UK: smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance

Do a check-in inventory. It's not a legal duty, but a dated, photographed inventory that the tenant has seen is your best evidence if there's a deposit dispute later.

You no longer give the How to Rent guide. It was withdrawn on 1 May 2026. GOV.UK keeps it only for tenancies where a section 21 notice was served before that date. Source: GOV.UK: How to rent (withdrawn 1 May 2026)

Tenancies that began before 1 May 2026. If you have a written agreement, you didn't need a new one, but you had to give the tenant the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026. If the tenancy was only verbal, you had to give the written statement of terms by the same date. Missing either can mean a fine of up to £7,000. Source: GOV.UK: the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026

During the tenancy

Gas safety check every 12 months. Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of each check. Keep each record for at least two years. Work out your next dates. Source: HSE: gas safety check records

EICR at least every five years. Give the tenant a copy within 28 days of the inspection. If remedial work is needed, send the tenant and the council written confirmation within 28 days of finishing it. Source: GOV.UK: electrical safety standards guidance

Keep the home in repair. You're responsible for the structure and outside, and for water, gas, electricity, heating, hot water and sanitation. The home must be fit to live in throughout the tenancy. Fix reported faults in a reasonable time, and faulty alarms as soon as reasonably practicable. Source: GOV.UK: private renting, repairs

Treat damp and mould as urgent. Awaab's Law sets strict deadlines for investigating and fixing hazards like damp and mould. It applies to social housing now. The government plans to extend it to private lets, but no date has been set. It doesn't apply to private landlords yet, but your existing repair and fitness duties already do. Source: GOV.UK: extending Awaab's Law to private rented tenancies (consultation)

Raise the rent only once a year, by section 13. Use Form 4A and give at least two months' notice. The tenant can challenge an increase above market rent at a tribunal. A rent review clause in the agreement has no effect. Sources: GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act overview; GOV.UK: assured tenancy forms

Answer pet requests in writing. If a tenant asks to keep a pet, reply in writing within 28 days. You can refuse only with a good reason, for example if your lease from the freeholder forbids pets. Source: House of Commons Library: can my landlord prevent me from keeping a pet?

Keep licences in date. HMO and selective licences last a set number of years and come with conditions. Diary the renewal. Source: GOV.UK: House in multiple occupation licence

Get ready for the Private Rented Sector Database. The Act sets up a database where landlords in England will register themselves and each home. It doesn't apply yet. Registration is planned to open region by region, and the dates are still to be confirmed. Keep each home's certificates and tenancy details together so you're ready. Source: The draft Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026

The Landlord Ombudsman (not yet open). The Act creates a new ombudsman that private landlords will have to join. It doesn't apply yet, and no start date or fee has been set. Source: GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act implementation roadmap

Keep good records. Certificates, notices, the deposit certificate, messages about repairs, and the right to rent checks. If there's ever a dispute, the person with the paperwork is in the stronger position.

Ending a tenancy

Your tenant can leave with two months' notice. They give notice in writing, ending on a rent day or the day before. Source: GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act overview for tenants

You need a legal reason and the right notice. You serve a section 8 notice using one or more grounds for possession (section 21 "no fault" evictions ended on 1 May 2026), with the notice period that ground requires. For many grounds it's four months. You can't use the selling or moving-in grounds in the first 12 months of a tenancy. If the tenant doesn't leave, only a court can order possession. Never change the locks or pressure a tenant to go: illegal eviction is a crime. Sources: GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act overview; legislation.gov.uk: S.I. 2026/421; GOV.UK: evicting tenants in England

Possession is a job for a person. LevelMoves never serves a notice for you and doesn't produce court forms. If you're thinking about possession, or you're in a dispute, speak to a solicitor or a landlord association first. The PA can gather your records so you're ready for that conversation.

Return the deposit within 10 days of agreeing the amount. If you can't agree on deductions, the deposit scheme's free dispute service decides. Any deduction is your decision to propose, with evidence. Source: GOV.UK: deposit protection schemes and landlords

Do a check-out inventory. Compare it with the check-in. Photos with dates help.

Printable checklist

Print this page or save it as a PDF. Tick each box when you have the proof on file.

Information, not legal advice. This checklist covers private lets in England only and reflects the law as checked on the date above. It doesn't cover every situation, such as lodgers, company lets or social housing. For possession, a dispute or anything you're unsure about, speak to a solicitor or a landlord association. LevelMoves is not a law firm and is not a letting agent.

See where you stand in two minutes

Take the free landlord check: 14 questions, no sign-up. Answer from what you can prove today and see what's missing.

Take the free landlord check · Start free