Managing a rental property in the UK means staying on top of a growing list of legal obligations. Miss one certificate or inspection and you could face fines of up to £30,000, prosecution, or be unable to serve a valid Section 21 notice.
This checklist covers every compliance requirement a UK landlord needs to know in 2026, whether you manage one buy-to-let or a portfolio of 50+ properties.
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
Required: Annually, for every property with gas appliances.
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must have all gas appliances, flues and pipework checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You must provide a copy of the certificate to tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in.
Fine for non-compliance: Up to £6,000 per offence, or imprisonment in serious cases.
Tip: Set up expiry tracking so you never miss a renewal. Keyvant flags certificates expiring within 30 days automatically.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Required: Every 5 years (or sooner if recommended).
Since 1 April 2021, all private rented properties in England need a valid EICR. The inspection must be carried out by a qualified electrician registered with a competent person scheme. If the report identifies any C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) issues, you must complete remedial work within 28 days.
Fine for non-compliance: Up to £30,000.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Required: Valid EPC rated E or above to let a property.
EPCs last 10 years. Since April 2020, it has been illegal to let a property with an EPC rating below E (the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards). There are limited exemptions, but you must register these on the PRS Exemptions Register.
Note: The government has signalled plans to raise the minimum to C by 2028. Start planning upgrades now for any D or E rated properties.
Fire Safety
Required: Smoke alarms on every floor; carbon monoxide alarms where solid fuel is used.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 expanded requirements: carbon monoxide alarms are now needed in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers). Alarms must be tested at the start of each new tenancy.
For HMOs, you also need fire doors, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers and a fire risk assessment.
Legionella Risk Assessment
Required: Before letting, and regularly reviewed.
The Health and Safety Executive requires landlords to assess the risk of legionella bacteria in their water systems. This does not have to be a professional assessment for simple domestic properties, but you should document your assessment and any actions taken.
Key risk factors include water stored between 20-45°C, stagnant water in unused outlets, and properties left vacant for extended periods.
Right to Rent Checks
Required: Before granting a tenancy to any new tenant.
Under the Immigration Act 2014, landlords in England must verify that tenants have the right to rent in the UK. You need to check original documents (passport, biometric residence permit, etc.) and keep copies for the duration of the tenancy and 12 months after.
Fine for non-compliance: Up to £3,000 per tenant for a first offence.
Deposit Protection
Required: Within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
All deposits for assured shorthold tenancies in England and Wales must be protected in a government-approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS). You must also serve the tenant with prescribed information within 30 days. Failure to protect a deposit means you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice and may be liable for compensation of up to 3x the deposit amount.
HMO Licensing
Required: For properties occupied by 5+ people from 2+ households.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more occupants forming two or more separate households. Many councils also operate additional licensing schemes with lower thresholds. Check your local authority's requirements — the fines for operating an unlicensed HMO can reach £30,000.
Selective Licensing
Some local authorities operate selective licensing schemes that require all privately rented properties in designated areas to be licensed, regardless of size or number of occupants. Check whether your property falls within a selective licensing area.
How to Stay on Top of It All
With certificates expiring at different intervals — annually for gas, every 5 years for EICR, every 10 years for EPC — it is easy for items to slip through the cracks, especially if you manage multiple properties.
A compliance tracker that monitors expiry dates and sends you alerts before deadlines hit is essential for any landlord managing more than a handful of properties. Keyvant tracks all of these certificates, flags items expiring within 30 days, and lets you download a full compliance report as a PDF for your records or your letting agent.