Landlord compliance checklist: what certificates does a landlord need?

This checklist covers the certificates and legal duties for private landlords in England, with the main differences for Scotland and Wales. If you just want to know what applies to your property, the landlord certificate checker asks a few questions and gives you a personalised list.

England: the core checklist

Penalties shown are maximums. Councils decide the actual amount case by case.

Gas safety

If the property has any gas appliance or flue you provide, a Gas Safe registered engineer must check it every 12 months. Since 2018 you can have the check done up to 2 months early and keep the original expiry date, which makes it easier to book without a gap. If you use that flexibility, keep the record until two further checks have been done.

Electrical safety (EICR)

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is needed at least every 5 years. If the report is unsatisfactory, you have 28 days (or less if the report says so) to get the work done, then 28 days after completion to send written confirmation to the tenant and the council. Our guide to EICR codes C1, C2 and C3 explains what each code means.

EPC and energy efficiency

You need a valid EPC rated E or above to let a property in England and Wales, unless you have a registered exemption. The current spending cap for improvements is £3,500 including VAT. Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register and most last 5 years.

Legionella

Many companies say a professional legionella assessment is a legal requirement. It isn’t. The legal duty is to assess and control the risk. HSE says most landlords can do this themselves and do not need to be trained or accredited, and testing is not usually needed in homes. Some landlords still pay for a professional assessment for peace of mind or for larger properties.

Deposits, Right to Rent and the tenancy

• Deposit cap: 5 weeks’ rent if annual rent is under £50,000; 6 weeks’ if it is £50,000 or more. A holding deposit is capped at 1 week’s rent.
• Rent in advance: capped at 1 month from 1 May 2026, and only payable once the tenancy agreement is signed.
• Right to Rent: a new Code of Practice took effect on 1 October 2026. You can check documents manually, use the Home Office online share-code check, or use a certified digital verification provider. People with an eVisa can only prove their right to rent through the Home Office online service.
• How to Rent guide: withdrawn. It is no longer a current requirement.
• Information Sheet: landlords with existing written tenancies had to give tenants the government’s Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.

Scotland: the main differences

Scotland has its own rules for most of this list.

Wales: the main differences

Extra duties for HMOs

A house in multiple occupation carries more duties than a single let.

• Mandatory HMO licence (England): needed if 5 or more people from 2 or more households share facilities. Councils can also require licences for smaller HMOs (additional licensing) or for all rented homes in an area (selective licensing). Licences last up to 5 years.
• Fire risk assessment: needed for the common parts under fire safety law. HMO licence conditions often add further fire safety requirements.
• HMO management regulations: also apply, alongside any conditions attached to your licence.
• Scotland: an HMO licence is generally needed where 3 or more unrelated people from 2 or more families share.
• Wales: mandatory HMO licensing uses the older test of 3 or more storeys and 5 or more people, and many councils also run additional licensing.

Licence fees and conditions are set locally, so check with your council.

Extra points for furnished lets

• Furniture and furnishings: furniture you supply must meet the fire safety rules for furniture and furnishings.
• PAT testing: a legal requirement in Scotland. In England and Wales it is not specifically required, but testing the appliances you supply is a sensible way to show they are safe.
• Inventory: not a legal requirement, but a detailed inventory and check-in report makes deposit disputes much easier to settle.

Upcoming changes to plan for

Dates marked as expected can move. Check GOV.UK or your council before acting on them.

Keeping on top of it

Most of these duties repeat on a fixed cycle: gas every year, EICR every 5 years, EPC every 10. The simplest way to avoid a lapse is to log every expiry date in one place. Our free certificate reminders email you before each one is due.