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Landlord compliance checklist for England: the duties to tick off in 2026

Clipboard on a hallway shelf beside a wall-mounted smoke alarm, a boiler with a service tag in the background and a folder of safety certifi

Reviewed by A LAMTANS Engineering Yasir Khan, Retrofit Coordinator at LAMTANS Engineering · Last updated 22 October 2026

This landlord compliance checklist covers the main legal duties for a rented home in England: gas, electrics, alarms, EPC, right to rent, deposits and the Renters' Rights Act. Each line gives the rule, the timing and the proof to keep. Every duty was checked against official sources on 21 October 2026.

Published 21 October 2026. Last updated: 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Retrofit Coordinator at LAMTANS Engineering.

Law status, checked 21 October 2026: every duty below is in force unless marked otherwise. The EPC C by 2030 rule is confirmed government policy, not yet law.

The landlord compliance checklist as a tick-box table

Print this table and tick each line per property. Dates and proof are listed so you can show a council officer in minutes.

DutyWhenProof to keepDone
Gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineerEvery yearGas safety record, kept for 2 years☐
Copy of gas record to tenantNew tenants before move-in; existing tenants within 28 days of each checkDated proof of delivery☐
Electrical installation check (EICR)At least every 5 yearsReport from a qualified person☐
Smoke alarm on each storey used as living spaceWorking on the first day of each new tenancyDated test note☐
Carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion applianceWorking on the first day of each new tenancyDated test note☐
Energy performance certificateProvide at the start of the tenancy; minimum rating ECertificate and register number☐
Right to rent check on every adult occupierBefore the tenancy startsDated copies or check results☐
Deposit protected in an approved schemeWithin 30 days of receiving itScheme certificate☐
Tenancy information or Information SheetNew tenancies from 1 May 2026; for older tenancies the deadline was 31 May 2026Dated copy of what was given☐

Gas safety certificate rules

Appliances and flues you supply must be maintained. A Gas Safe registered engineer must carry out an annual check. Keep each record for two years, as the Health and Safety Executive advises.

Give each existing tenant a copy within 28 days of the check. Give any new tenant a copy before they move in. Our electrical and gas safety service can arrange checks through a qualified engineer. LAMTANS Engineering Ltd is on the Gas Safe Register, registration number 673932.

EICR and electrical safety

GOV.UK says the electrical system must be safe and checked at least every 5 years by a properly qualified person. Landlords must give tenants proof that installations and appliances they supply have been inspected and tested.

GOV.UK's guidance page does not give a timeframe for providing it. We therefore do not quote one. Ask your inspector for the report format a council would expect.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

You need at least one smoke alarm on each storey used as living accommodation. You need a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, other than a gas cooker.

Alarms must work on the day a new tenancy begins. Faulty ones must be repaired or replaced once you are told. Failing to act on a remedial notice can bring a fine of up to £5,000.

EPC duties for landlords

You must give tenants an EPC free of charge at the start of the tenancy. The minimum rating in force today is E, with exemptions recorded on the PRS Exemptions Register. An EPC is valid for ten years.

The next step is policy, not law. The government has confirmed EPC C by 1 October 2030. See our EPC C 2030 guide. If you think a certificate is wrong, read how to challenge an EPC.

Right to rent checks

Check every adult who will live in the property as their only or main home, including British citizens, before the tenancy is entered into. Three methods are allowed: a manual document check, the Home Office online share code check or a registered digital identity provider.

Keep a record of the date of the check. For online and provider checks, keep the result for the length of the tenancy plus one year. Civil penalties start at £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier. The current code took effect on 1 October 2026.

Deposit protection

Place any deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. The schemes are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Return the deposit within 10 days of both sides agreeing the amount.

GOV.UK says assured periodic tenancies replaced assured shorthold tenancies on 1 May 2026.

Renters' Rights Act: phase 1 from 1 May 2026

Phase 1 applies to new and existing tenancies. The main points for landlords are:

  • Section 21 no-fault evictions have ended and assured periodic tenancies are the norm.
  • Rent can rise once a year, using the revised section 13 process with at least two months' notice.
  • Rental bidding is banned. You cannot ask for more than one month's rent in advance.
  • Discrimination against renters with children or on benefits is illegal.
  • Pet requests must be considered within 28 days.

Penalties include council civil penalties of up to £7,000 or £40,000, prosecution and rent repayment orders of up to two years' rent. Our Renters' Rights Act guide gives the later phases. The old How to rent guide was withdrawn on 1 May 2026.

Coming next: landlord registration

GOV.UK says the registration service will launch on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, with other areas over the following 12 months. All landlords actively letting must be registered by 14 November 2027. Each region called forward has a three-month window.

We have not found a North West date. We will add it when GOV.UK publishes one.

Licensing and local schemes

Some homes need a licence on top of these duties. A house in multiple occupation can need a mandatory licence. Selective licensing applies in designated areas. See our HMO compliance guide for Manchester. Greater Manchester landlords can also join the Good Landlord Charter.

Our adviser tip, from a Retrofit Coordinator: put every renewal date in one calendar, with the proof file name beside it. Gas, electrics and alarms all fall due at different times, and a missed date is the commonest avoidable breach.

Who we are

Compliant Lets is a trading name of LAMTANS Holdings Ltd. Retrofit and compliance work is delivered by LAMTANS Engineering Ltd. Check the registers yourself: TrustMark, RECC, ICO, Gas Safe Register and Simply Certification.

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Sources

Designed & developed by LAMTANS Technologies LLC, USA — part of the LAMTANS Group

Frequently asked questions

How often is a gas safety check needed?

Every year, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Keep each record for two years. Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days and new tenants a copy before they move in.

How often is an EICR needed?

GOV.UK says the electrics must be checked at least every 5 years by a properly qualified person. Give your tenants proof of the inspection.

Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm in every room?

No. You need one in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, other than a gas cooker. Smoke alarms are needed on each storey used as living accommodation.

When must I protect a tenant's deposit?

Within 30 days of receiving it, in an approved scheme. Return it within 10 days of both sides agreeing the amount.

Who needs a right to rent check?

Every adult who will live in the property as their only or main home, including British citizens. Check before the tenancy is entered into.

Is the EPC minimum still E?

Yes. EPC E is the minimum in force today. EPC C by 1 October 2030 is confirmed government policy, not yet law.

Did the Renters' Rights Act change the checklist?

Yes. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 ended, rent rises are limited and new tenancy information is required. The old How to rent guide was withdrawn.