Renters' Rights Act Landlord Checklist 2026
Every legal requirement for private landlords in England — gas safety, electrics, EPC, deposit protection, smoke alarms, and written tenancy obligations — in a single compliance record.
What is a landlord compliance checklist and when do you need one?
A landlord compliance checklist is a structured record confirming that a rental property meets all statutory safety and documentation requirements before and during a tenancy. While no single piece of legislation mandates a checklist in this exact form, the individual obligations it covers are each independently required by law.
You need to be able to demonstrate compliance with each of the following before a tenant takes occupation and throughout the tenancy:
- Gas Safety Certificate — annual inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer (Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998)
- Energy Performance Certificate — minimum E rating, provided to tenant before tenancy starts
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — every 5 years or at change of tenancy
- Smoke alarms — at least one on every storey of the property (Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015)
- Carbon monoxide alarms — in every room containing a fixed combustion appliance
- Deposit protection — protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, Prescribed Information served
- “How to Rent” guide — current version given to tenant at start of tenancy
- Legionella risk assessment — periodic risk assessment of the water system
Keeping a documented compliance record matters because: it demonstrates due diligence if a tenant makes a complaint or enforcement action is taken; it provides evidence in any dispute about the condition of the property; and it helps you track renewal dates so certificates do not lapse unnoticed mid-tenancy.
What changed under the Renters' Rights Act 2025?
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 added several new compliance obligations to the existing framework:
Mandatory written statement of tenancy terms
Landlords are now legally required to provide a written statement of tenancy terms to every tenant before or at the start of the tenancy. This goes beyond a standard tenancy agreement and must cover specific prescribed information. Failure to provide it is a breach of the Act.
Private Rented Sector Database
RRA 2025 establishes a national database of private landlords. Landlords must register on the database before letting any property. Unregistered landlords face fines and cannot rely on certain possession grounds.
Decent Homes Standard extended to private rented sector
The Decent Homes Standard — previously applying only to social housing — now applies to the private rented sector. Properties that fail the standard are subject to enforcement by local authorities.
Retaliatory eviction prohibited
It is now a formal offence to evict a tenant in retaliation for making a complaint about the property’s condition. Evidence of a recent complaint will be scrutinised by courts when considering possession applications.
Prohibition on certain rental practices
RRA 2025 prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to bid above the advertised rent, restricts rent in advance for most tenancies to one month, and bans discriminatory no-DSS or no-children policies.
Common compliance mistakes and how to avoid them
Letting a gas safety certificate lapse
Gas safety certificates must be renewed every 12 months without exception. A lapsed certificate is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety Regulations. If a tenant is injured because of a gas fault without a valid certificate in place, the consequences are severe.
Using the old version of the "How to Rent" guide
The government updates the "How to Rent" guide periodically. You must always serve the current version. Serving an outdated version has been held to be equivalent to not serving it at all in some court decisions.
Not protecting the deposit within 30 days
The deadline for protecting a deposit is 30 days from receipt. Late protection means the tenant can claim up to 3x the deposit amount in compensation, and you cannot validly serve certain notices until the situation is remedied.
Forgetting to check smoke and CO alarm operation at move-in
Smoke and CO alarms must be tested and confirmed working at the start of each tenancy. Simply having them installed is not enough — you must be able to demonstrate they were tested and operational on the day the tenant moved in.
No EICR for a property occupied since before 2020
The requirement for EICRs for all private rented properties was phased in, with all tenancies covered by 1 April 2021. If your property has not had an EICR since then, it is overdue and you are in breach of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
What checks are legally required before letting a property in England?
Before a tenancy begins, landlords must have a valid gas safety certificate (annual), an Energy Performance Certificate rated E or above, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) completed within the last 5 years, working smoke alarms on every floor, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance. The deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt.
What is the “How to Let” guide and do I have to provide it?
Yes. Landlords in England are required to give tenants the government’s “How to Rent” guide at the start of every tenancy and whenever a new version is published. Failure to provide the current version means you cannot serve a Section 21 notice — though Section 21 has now been abolished by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, serving the guide remains a legal requirement.
How often does an EICR need to be renewed?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report must be carried out at least every 5 years, or at every change of tenancy if sooner. The report must be carried out by a qualified and competent electrician. A copy must be given to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection.
What are the EPC requirements for rental properties?
Rental properties in England must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be let (subject to limited exemptions). The government had proposed raising the minimum to C by 2028 — check current regulations for the latest position, as this has been subject to ongoing review.
What changed for landlord compliance under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025?
RRA 2025 introduced mandatory written statements of tenancy terms (which must now be provided to tenants), strengthened the Decent Homes Standard obligations, and established the new Private Rented Sector Database. Landlords are also now prohibited from retaliatory eviction, which is a formal offence under the Act.
This page provides general information about landlord compliance requirements in England. It is not legal advice. Requirements change: always verify current obligations with the relevant legislation or a qualified housing solicitor.