A tenancy can look ready on paper, then unravel because one certificate has expired, a deposit was protected late or a local licence was missed. This landlord compliance checklist 2026 is designed for landlords in England who want to stay on top of the practical checks before, during and between tenancies – without turning property management into a second full-time job.
The rules below apply across England, but local licensing conditions can differ. That matters particularly in London, where borough schemes and property types can change the obligations attached to a rental home.
Landlord compliance checklist 2026: 12 checks
1. Confirm the property has a valid EPC
Most privately rented homes need an Energy Performance Certificate rated E or above. An EPC normally lasts for 10 years, but that does not mean an older rating is automatically good enough for the property or your plans. Check the certificate is still valid, the listed property details are correct and any recommended upgrades have been considered.
Some properties can qualify for an exemption from minimum energy efficiency standards, but exemptions are specific and need to be properly registered. Do not assume a difficult-to-improve home is exempt simply because works are expensive or planning restrictions apply.
2. Arrange an annual gas safety check
Where the property has gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer must complete a gas safety check at least every 12 months. Give a new tenant a copy of the current record before they move in, then provide the updated record within 28 days of each annual check.
This is more than a certificate exercise. Keep appliance servicing, flues, ventilation and access arrangements under review. If a tenant reports a smell of gas, a faulty boiler or repeated loss of heating, deal with it as an urgent safety issue rather than waiting for the next inspection.
3. Keep electrical inspections up to date
A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report is required before a new tenancy begins and must be renewed at least every five years, unless the report calls for an earlier inspection. Existing tenants should receive a copy within 28 days, while new tenants should receive it before occupation.
If the report identifies remedial works, complete them within the timeframe stated by the electrician or within 28 days where no shorter period is specified. Retain written confirmation that the work has been completed. Portable appliances are not covered by the same fixed legal timetable, but sensible checks of supplied items such as kettles, lamps and white goods remain good practice.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Smoke alarms must be installed on every storey used as living accommodation. Carbon monoxide alarms are required in rooms containing a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. Test all alarms on the first day of a new tenancy and record the result.
Tenants should be asked to test alarms regularly and report faults promptly, but the landlord remains responsible for repairing or replacing alarms that are not working. Make this part of the move-in conversation, not a line buried in the tenancy agreement.
5. Check whether the property needs a licence
Licensing is one of the easiest areas to overlook and one of the costliest to get wrong. A larger shared home may need a mandatory HMO licence, usually where five or more people from two or more households share facilities. Many councils also operate additional HMO or selective licensing schemes that can capture smaller shared homes or single-family lets in designated areas.
Check the address directly with the relevant local authority before marketing the property, then review the licence conditions. They may cover management standards, waste storage, room sizes, safety measures and the documents you must provide. A licence is not simply something to file away until renewal.
6. Complete Right to Rent checks correctly
Before a tenancy starts, landlords must carry out Right to Rent checks on every adult who will use the property as their main home. Depending on the tenant’s status, this may involve checking original documents in person or using the appropriate online checking process.
Timing and record-keeping matter. Take clear copies, record the date the check was made and diarise any follow-up check required for a time-limited right to rent. Avoid making assumptions based on a person’s accent, name or nationality. The same process should be applied consistently to all prospective occupiers.
7. Protect the deposit within 30 days
If you take a tenancy deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy, protect it in an approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. The prescribed information must also be served within that same 30-day period. Missing either deadline can lead to a financial penalty and may affect your ability to regain possession later.
For most tenancies, the deposit cap is five weeks’ rent where annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks’ rent where it is £50,000 or more. A holding deposit is capped at one week’s rent. Use a detailed, dated inventory with photographs at check-in and check-out. It is the clearest way to separate fair wear and tear from genuine damage.
8. Serve the right tenancy documents
Give the tenant the current How to Rent guide at the start of the tenancy, alongside required safety records and deposit information. Your tenancy agreement should identify the parties, rent, payment date, deposit, term, repair responsibilities and any fair, enforceable conditions on use of the home.
Avoid copying clauses from old agreements without checking them. Tenancy reform has been changing the rental landscape, and notice, possession and tenancy rules can be affected by new legislation and commencement dates. A compliant agreement is only useful if your day-to-day practice follows it too.
9. Tackle repairs, damp and hazards promptly
Landlords are responsible for key repairs, including the structure and exterior, heating, hot water, sanitation and installations for gas, electricity and water. The property must also be fit for human habitation. Damp, mould, inadequate heating, unsafe stairs, poor ventilation and electrical hazards can all become serious issues if ignored.
Respond to reports in writing, assess urgency quickly and keep a clear repair trail. A leaking pipe may be routine on Monday and an emergency by Friday if it has caused ceiling damage and affected electrics. Regular inspections, carried out with appropriate notice, help identify problems before they become disputes.
10. Assess fire, furniture and water risks
Any upholstered furniture you supply must comply with furniture and furnishing fire safety requirements, with limited exceptions. Check labels before leaving sofas, mattresses or cushions in a furnished let, especially when reusing items from another property.
A simple legionella risk assessment is also sensible, particularly where a property has been empty, has an older water system or has seldom-used pipework. Most standard homes do not need costly testing, but you should understand the risks, keep water systems in good order and follow up where there is a higher-risk tenant or installation.
11. Manage rent, access and tenant information fairly
The Tenant Fees Act restricts the payments a landlord or agent can charge. Keep rent, deposits and permitted default payments clearly documented, and do not add administration charges that the law does not allow.
Respect the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment. Except in an emergency, give at least 24 hours’ written notice before seeking access and arrange a reasonable time. You will also hold personal information about applicants and tenants, so keep documents secure, limit access and dispose of records carefully when they are no longer needed.
12. Build a compliance diary, not a pile of paperwork
The most reliable landlords do not rely on memory. Set reminders for the gas safety record, EICR, EPC expiry, licence renewal, deposit deadlines, follow-up Right to Rent checks, periodic inspections and insurance renewal. Keep certificates, inspection notes, contractor invoices, tenant communications and proof of document service in one organised record.
This approach protects tenants, but it also protects you when a question arises months later. If you own a property in SE18, SE28 or SE2 and would rather not manage late-night repair calls, renewals and compliance dates alone, Hi Residential can provide the practical oversight that keeps a tenancy moving properly.
A well-run rental is rarely defined by a single document. It is defined by what happens when the boiler fails, a tenant raises a concern or a renewal date comes around – and whether you can show that you acted promptly, fairly and safely.
