What your landlord must give you
Updated . Checked against official sources.
Private landlords in England have to give you certain safety certificates and documents, and on time. Here's the checklist, when each one is due, and what you can do if something's missing.
The checklist
| What | When you should get it | If it's missing |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record (if there's gas) | Before you move in, then within 28 days of each yearly check | Ask your landlord, then tell the council. Gas safety breaches are criminal offences. |
| Electrical safety report (EICR) | Before you move in, then within 28 days of each inspection (at least every 5 years) | The council can fine the landlord up to £40,000 |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | Before you rent: the landlord must show it to you | Tell your council's trading standards team. The fine for not having one is up to £200 |
| Deposit protection and the prescribed information | Within 30 days of paying a deposit | You can claim 1 to 3 times the deposit in court |
| Written tenancy terms | Before the tenancy starts (tenancies from 1 May 2026) | The council can fine the landlord up to £7,000 |
| The Renters' Rights Act information sheet | By 31 May 2026, if your written tenancy started before 1 May 2026 | The council can fine the landlord up to £7,000. About the sheet |
| Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | Checked on the day your tenancy starts | Report it. The landlord must repair or replace as soon as reasonably practicable |
| An address in England or Wales for notices | From the start | Until they give one, rent is treated as not due |
Which alarms should my home have?
A smoke alarm on every storey you live on, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed appliance that burns fuel, such as a boiler, gas fire or wood burner (gas cookers don't count).
What about my deposit?
Your landlord must put it in a government-approved protection scheme within 30 days and give you the scheme's details. When you leave, it must be returned within 10 days of you both agreeing the amount. If it wasn't protected properly, a court must order the landlord to pay you 1 to 3 times the deposit, and the landlord generally can't get a possession order until it's sorted.
Can I ask for a pet?
Yes. Ask in writing and describe the pet. Your landlord must reply in writing within 28 days and can't refuse unreasonably.
What if my home needs repairs?
Tell your landlord in writing and keep paying your rent. If repairs aren't done, contact your council's environmental health team, which must act if the problems could harm you. Stronger rules are coming: a new Decent Homes Standard for rented homes by 2035, and the government is consulting until 18 December 2026 on extending Awaab's Law (deadlines to fix hazards) to private renting.
Get told when you can check your landlord
The government has said renters will be able to check whether a landlord is registered. We'll email you when that's possible, and if the rules on what you can see change. Nothing else.
Questions renters ask
Does my landlord have to give me a gas safety certificate?
Yes, if there are gas appliances. You should get a copy before you move in and within 28 days of each yearly check.
Does my landlord have to give me an electrical safety certificate?
Yes. Landlords must have the electrics inspected at least every 5 years and give you the report before you move in and within 28 days of each inspection.
How long does my landlord have to protect my deposit?
30 days from when you paid it. If they didn't, you can claim 1 to 3 times the deposit in court.
How long does my landlord have to return my deposit?
10 days from when you both agree how much you'll get back.
Who do I complain to if my landlord won't do repairs?
Your landlord first, in writing. If nothing happens, your council's environmental health team, which must act if the problems could harm you.