Landlord compliance in the UK is not complicated once you know what you need. The problem is that the requirements are spread across different pieces of legislation, and missing any one of them can carry serious consequences.
This checklist covers every certificate and compliance document a private residential landlord in England needs in 2026.
1. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
Required if: Your property has any gas appliances, including a boiler, gas fire, gas cooker, or hob.
Validity: 12 months.
Who can issue it: Gas Safe registered engineer only.
What you must do:
- Arrange an annual check of all gas appliances and flues
- Give your tenant a copy within 28 days of each annual check
- Give a new tenant a copy before they move in
- Keep a record of each certificate for at least 2 years
Penalty for non-compliance: Criminal offence. Unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment.
See our complete gas safety certificate guide for the full detail, including the obligation to prove you gave your tenant their copy.
2. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Required for: Every rented property in England.
Validity: 10 years. The property must be rated E or above under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let without a valid exemption.
Future change: the minimum standard is rising to EPC C. Under the government's late-2025 response on the energy performance of privately rented homes, the higher standard applies to new tenancies from 2028 and to all tenancies by 1 October 2030, with landlord spending capped at £10,000 per property. Our EPC 2030 guide explains what this means for you.
- Ensure a valid EPC exists for the property
- Give your tenant a copy at the start of the tenancy
- Ensure the rating is E or above
Penalty for non-compliance: Up to £5,000 per property for MEES non-compliance.
3. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Required for: All private rented properties in England.
Validity: Maximum 5 years, or as recommended by the inspector, sometimes shorter for older installations.
Who can issue it: A qualified electrician registered with a competent persons scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT.
- Have an EICR carried out at least every 5 years
- Give your tenant a copy within 28 days of the inspection
- Give a new tenant a copy before they move in
- Complete any required remedial work within 28 days of the report
Penalty for non-compliance: Local authority civil penalty up to £40,000.
The first five-year EICRs are expiring in 2026, our EICR guide explains the C1 to C3 codes and what an unsatisfactory report means.
4. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Required for: All rented properties in England, extended in October 2022 to require CO alarms in rooms with any gas appliance.
- At least one smoke alarm on every storey where there is a room used as living accommodation
- A carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, including gas boilers and gas fires
- Test alarms on the first day of each new tenancy and keep a record
Penalty for non-compliance: Local authority fine up to £5,000.
5. Legionella Risk Assessment
Required: Landlords have a legal duty to assess the risk of Legionella in their water systems. Most residential rental properties require a risk assessment.
Validity: No fixed legal renewal period. Review if the water system changes or if there have been significant changes to the property. Most landlords review every 2 years.
- Assess the risk, or have it assessed professionally
- Implement any recommended controls
- Keep a record of the assessment and any actions taken
6. Tenancy Deposit Protection
Required for: Every tenancy where a deposit is taken.
- Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it
- Give your tenant the Prescribed Information about the scheme within 30 days
Penalty for non-compliance: The court can order repayment of the deposit and compensation of up to 3x the deposit amount.
7. Renters' Rights Act Information and Written Statement of Terms
Required for: Every tenancy in England. This replaces the old How to Rent guide, which was discontinued when the Renters' Rights Act 2025 took effect on 1 May 2026.
- Existing tenancies that began before 1 May 2026: give your tenant the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.
- New tenancies from 1 May 2026: give your tenant a Written Statement of Terms containing the mandatory information. The Information Sheet does not apply to these.
A PDF sent by email is acceptable where the tenant has agreed to receive documents electronically.
Penalty for non-compliance: a civil penalty of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 or criminal prosecution for repeat breaches.
At a glance
| Certificate | Validity | Give to tenant? | Key penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Safety (CP12) | Annual | Yes, within 28 days | Criminal offence |
| EPC | 10 years | Yes, at tenancy start | Up to £5,000 |
| EICR | 5 years | Yes, within 28 days | Up to £40,000 |
| Smoke/CO Alarms | Test each tenancy | Test record recommended | Up to £5,000 |
| Legionella Assessment | Periodic review | Good practice | No fixed fine |
| Deposit Protection | Per tenancy | Yes, Prescribed Info | Up to 3x deposit |
| RRA Info Sheet / Written Statement | Per tenancy | Yes | Up to £7,000 |
Keeping on top of all of it
Having the list is one thing. The harder part is never missing a renewal across every property, year after year. If you want to work out exactly when each certificate is due, use our free certificate renewal calculator, or read how to track landlord certificates without missing a renewal.
Not sure where you stand right now? Our 60-second compliance check tells you which certificates your property needs and flags any gaps.