Property & Landlord2 min check

Landlord Compliance Checklist

Check your current position on the major UK landlord legal duties.

Short answer

Core landlord duties in England: protect deposit (30 days), provide gas safety certificate (annual), EICR (every 5 years), EPC band E+, smoke alarms on every floor + CO alarms in fuel-burning rooms, How to Rent guide, Right to Rent checks. Wales adds Rent Smart, Scotland landlord registration.

Step 1 of 10%

How it works

This is a checklist of the documents and certificates required before serving any notice or starting any tenancy. Missing any of them can invalidate Section 21, trigger fines, or expose you to a Rent Repayment Order.

Worked example

New AST 1 June: serve gas safety + EPC + How to Rent + EICR copy on or before move-in date. Deposit protected by 30 June. Smoke alarm on every storey tested on day one.

Who should use this

•Self-managing landlords
•Letting agents onboarding new properties
•Landlords switching from agent to self-management

Common mistakes

×Serving gas safety late — original case law says s.21 invalid forever (relaxed by Trecarrell, but still risky)
×Forgetting Right to Rent for all adult occupiers
×Not re-issuing How to Rent at each renewal version
×Outdated EICR (5-year cycle)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to be a landlord?▾

England — only for HMOs and selective licensing areas. Wales — Rent Smart Wales for all. Scotland — landlord registration for all.

What's the penalty for missing gas safety?▾

Unlimited fine and possible imprisonment. Tenant can also claim Rent Repayment Order.

Can I do my own EICR?▾

Only if you're a registered competent electrician. Otherwise use NICEIC / NAPIT registered.

Related calculators

Deposit Protection →Section 21 →EPC Duty →HMO Licence →