Landlord certificates and checks: the full checklist
Updated . Checked against official sources.
Every private landlord in England needs a handful of certificates and checks, each on its own cycle. Miss one and you can face fines, lose the right to evict, or in the worst cases face prosecution. Here's every one, how often it's due, and what to give your tenants.
At a glance
| What | How often | Give tenants | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record | Every 12 months | Within 28 days of the check; new tenants before they move in | Criminal offence |
| Electrical safety report (EICR) | At least every 5 years | Within 28 days; new tenants before they move in | £40,000 |
| Energy Performance Certificate | Valid 10 years; rating E or above | Before they rent, free | £5,000 per property |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | Checked on the first day of every tenancy | Repair or replace when told of a fault | £5,000 |
| Deposit protection | Within 30 days of taking a deposit | Prescribed information within 30 days | 1 to 3 times the deposit |
| Right to rent checks | Before every tenancy, for every adult | Nothing to give | £20,000 per person |
| Written terms | Before every new tenancy | A written statement of terms | £7,000 |
| Legionella risk assessment | Review when anything changes | Nothing to give | Criminal offence |
| HMO or selective licence | If your council requires one; lasts up to 5 years | Licence conditions apply | £40,000 |
| Landlord register | Once, then renew every year | Registration numbers on adverts (planned) | £40,000 |
How these feed into the landlord register
When you register each property on the new national landlord register, you'll be asked for your gas safety record's issue date, your electrical safety report's expiry date, your EPC details and any licence. Having them in date before your registration window opens makes registering quick, and you'll need to keep the entry up to date as each one renews. Registration itself costs £65 a property, every year.
Each one in more detail
Gas safety record
Every gas appliance and flue you provide must be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. You can have the check done up to 2 months early and keep your original renewal date. Gas safety certificates in full.
Electrical safety report (EICR)
The fixed wiring must be inspected and tested by a qualified person before a tenancy starts and at least every 5 years. Any remedial work must be done within 28 days. The maximum fine rose to £40,000 in 2026. Electrical safety in full.
Energy Performance Certificate
You can't let a home rated below E unless you've registered an exemption. An EPC lasts 10 years and must be given to tenants free. The government plans to raise the minimum to C by 1 October 2030, but that isn't law yet. EPC rules in full.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
You need a smoke alarm on every storey with a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any such room with a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker. Check they work on the day each tenancy starts, and repair or replace them as soon as reasonably practicable once told of a fault. GOV.UK guidance.
Deposit protection
Protect any deposit in a government-approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days. Since 1 May 2026 this applies to all assured tenancies, and if you get it wrong a court generally can't make a possession order, as well as ordering you to pay 1 to 3 times the deposit. GOV.UK guidance.
Right to rent checks
Before a tenancy starts, check that every adult who'll live there as their main home has the right to rent in England, including British citizens. For someone with time-limited permission, check no more than 28 days before the tenancy starts. A new code of practice took effect on 1 October 2026. How to do right to rent checks.
Written terms and the information sheet
Since 1 May 2026, every new tenancy needs a written statement of its terms before it starts. Tenants with a written agreement from before that date had to be given the official Renters' Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026. The old How to Rent guide has been withdrawn and isn't needed for new tenancies. The information sheet explained.
Legionella
You must assess the risk of legionella in the water system and control it. For most homes a simple assessment you can do yourself is enough, and the law doesn't require a legionella certificate or testing. HSE guidance.
Licences
A mandatory HMO licence is needed for 5 or more people from more than one household sharing facilities. Many councils also license smaller HMOs or every private let in an area. Letting without a required licence can cost up to £40,000, up from £30,000 before May 2026. Check your council's schemes.
What's coming
- EPC C: the government has confirmed it intends to raise the minimum to C by 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 cost cap per property. It still needs legislation.
- Decent Homes Standard: a reformed standard will apply to private rented homes from 2035. Policy statement.
- Awaab's Law: the government is consulting on extending its damp and mould rules to private rentals, until 18 December 2026. Consultation.
Never miss a certificate renewal
We're building a simple tracker that reminds you before each property's gas, electrical and EPC certificates, licences and register renewal expire. Join the list and we'll email you once, when it opens. See what it does.
Questions landlords ask
What certificates does a landlord need in England?
A gas safety record every 12 months if there are gas appliances, an electrical safety report at least every 5 years, and an EPC rated E or above. You also need working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a protected deposit, right to rent checks, and any licence your council requires.
Do landlords need a legionella certificate?
No. Landlords must assess and control the risk of legionella, but HSE says the law does not require a legionella certificate, and testing is usually not needed for homes.
Do I still need to give tenants the How to Rent guide?
Not for new tenancies. It was withdrawn on 1 May 2026. New tenancies need a written statement of terms instead, and existing tenants had to be given the Renters' Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026.
How often does a landlord need an EICR?
At least every 5 years, or sooner if the last report says so, and before a new tenancy starts.
How often is a gas safety check needed?
Every 12 months. You can have it done up to 2 months early and keep the original renewal date.
Rules checked against GOV.UK, HSE and legislation.gov.uk on 21 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. How this site works.