Free Landlord Compliance Checklist 2026 (Interactive + PDF Download)

What do landlords legally need to provide?

Landlords must provide safety certificates (gas, electrical), an EPC, deposit protection, Right to Rent verification, and specific documents including the How to Rent guide. Most are required before the tenancy starts.

Interactive compliance checklist - track your progress:

Gas safety certificate requirements

Every rental property with gas appliances needs an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The certificate must be given to tenants within 28 days of the check, or before move-in for new tenants.

No gas appliances? You don't need a certificate. But most properties have a gas boiler, and you must check hobs, fires, and any other gas appliances. Gas safety is one of three essential landlord safety certificates alongside EICR and EPC.

EICR electrical safety requirements

All private landlords in England must have a valid EICR. The report must be renewed every 5 years and given to tenants before they move in. Remedial work for urgent issues must be done within 28 days.

The EICR grades issues by severity: C1 (danger present - immediate action), C2 (potentially dangerous - urgent action), C3 (improvement recommended). C1 and C2 must be fixed within 28 days.

EPC requirements for rental properties

Rental properties need a valid EPC with a minimum rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be let unless exempt. The government confirmed on 28 January 2026 that the minimum will rise to C by 1 October 2030.

Under the confirmed 2030 rules, a cost cap of £10,000 every 10 years applies. Properties valued under £100,000 have a lower cap. Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

Deposit protection rules

Deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. You must also give tenants prescribed information about the protection within the same 30 days.

Three approved schemes:

• DPS (Deposit Protection Service) - Custodial (free)
• TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) - Custodial or Insured
• MyDeposits - Custodial or Insured

Consequences of not protecting:

• Cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice (until 1 May 2026)
• Tenant can claim 1-3 times the deposit in court
• Must return the full deposit regardless of damage

Maximum deposit you can take: 5 weeks' rent (for annual rent under £50,000). Read our complete deposit protection guide for detailed instructions on protecting and returning deposits.

Right to Rent checks

You must verify every adult tenant's right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. This means checking original documents or using the Home Office online service for share codes.

How to check:

1. Ask for original identity documents (passport, BRP, etc.)
2. For EU/EEA citizens with settled/pre-settled status: use online share code
3. Check documents are genuine (security features)
4. Check photos match the person
5. Make and keep copies
6. Record the date of check

Time-limited permission: If a tenant has time-limited right to remain, you must repeat the check before it expires. Set a reminder.

Penalty for not checking: Up to £20,000 per tenant.

Prescribed information and documents

You must give tenants specific documents including the How to Rent guide, gas safety certificate, EICR, EPC, and deposit prescribed information. Missing any can invalidate a Section 21 notice.

Documents required before move-in:

• How to Rent guide (current version)
• Gas Safety Certificate
• EICR
• EPC
• Tenancy agreement (written)

Documents required within 30 days:

• Deposit protection certificate
• Deposit prescribed information

Keep proof that you provided each document. Email is ideal as it's timestamped.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Smoke alarms are required on every floor. Carbon monoxide alarms are required in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (including gas boilers). Alarms must be tested and working at tenancy start.

You must test alarms work at the start of each tenancy. It's the tenant's responsibility to test regularly during the tenancy, but good practice to check at inspections.

Licensing requirements

Check if your property needs a licence. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5+ people from 2+ households. Selective and additional licensing varies by local authority area.

Types of licensing:

• Mandatory HMO: 5+ people from 2+ households sharing facilities
• Additional HMO: Smaller HMOs in designated areas (council decides)
• Selective: All rentals in designated areas (council decides)

Check your local council website for licensing requirements in your area. Letting without a required licence is a criminal offence with fines up to £30,000 and potential Rent Repayment Orders.

Property area checks: flood risk and crime data

Beyond certificates and documents, responsible landlords should understand environmental and safety risks for each property. Government data sources make it easy to check flood zones and local crime statistics before purchasing or when reviewing your portfolio.

Key area checks for landlords:

Flood risk and crime data don't create legal compliance obligations in the same way as gas safety or EPC certificates, but they directly impact your investment decisions, insurance premiums, and duty of care to tenants.

Consequences of non-compliance

Non-compliance can result in fines, inability to evict tenants, tenant compensation claims, and even criminal prosecution.

Financial penalties summary

Section 21 invalidation (until 1 May 2026)

These issues can prevent you serving a valid Section 21 eviction notice (only relevant until abolition on 1 May 2026):

• Deposit not protected or prescribed information not served
• How to Rent guide not provided
• Gas safety certificate not provided
• EICR not provided
• EPC not provided
• Required licensing not in place

After Section 21 is abolished, you'll need to use Section 8 grounds which require specific reasons like rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.

Rent Repayment Orders

Tenants can apply for Rent Repayment Orders (up to 12 months' rent) if you've committed certain offences:

• Operating without required licence
• Illegal eviction or harassment
• Failure to comply with improvement notices
• Breaching a banning order

2026 changes: What's new for landlords

Major regulatory changes take effect in 2026: Section 21 abolished (1 May 2026), Making Tax Digital mandatory for landlords with £50k+ income (April 2026), and new PRS Database registration requirements. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025.

Key 2026 deadlines

What Section 21 abolition means for you

From 1 May 2026, landlords can no longer use Section 21 "no-fault" evictions. You'll need to use Section 8 grounds instead, which require valid reasons like rent arrears or property damage. Start preparing now by understanding the 17 Section 8 grounds and keeping meticulous tenancy records.

Making Tax Digital requirements

Landlords with gross property income over £50,000 must use MTD-compatible software from April 2026. This means:

• Digital record keeping (no more spreadsheets or paper records)
• Quarterly updates to HMRC via software
• Final declaration and tax calculation via software

The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2028. LandlordOS is MTD-ready.