Landlord Compliance Checklist (England): Every Certificate You Need

Rental compliance is not hard to understand. It is hard to keep up with. The rules are spread across several sets of regulations, each with its own renewal cycle, and missing one can mean a fine of thousands of pounds, enforcement action from the council or, worse, a tenant put at risk. This checklist puts them in one place.

This guide covers England as at 20 October 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. Rules change, so check GOV.UK or your council for anything specific to your property.

The core checklist

Gas safety

Every gas appliance and flue you provide must be safety-checked every 12 months, and you must keep each record until two further checks have been done. A check in the two months before the deadline keeps your existing renewal date. Read the full CP12 guide.

Electrical safety

An EICR is needed at least every five years. Any C1 or C2 must be put right, and any FI investigated, within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so). You must then send written confirmation, with the report, to the tenant and the council within 28 days of the work being finished. EICR codes explained.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations (as amended from 1 October 2022), you must:

• Fit a smoke alarm on every storey used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
• Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (boilers, wood burners and so on), not counting gas cookers.
• Repair or replace an alarm once told it is faulty.

Councils can fine landlords up to £5,000 for breaches.

EPC

Rental homes currently need an EPC rating of at least E to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered. The government has confirmed that privately rented homes will need to meet an EPC C-equivalent standard (on new EPC measures) by 1 October 2030, with spending capped at £10,000 per property. The detail still needs legislation, so plan upgrades now.

Legionella

There is no legal "legionella certificate". Landlords do have a duty to assess and control the risk from water systems. For most single lets that means a simple risk assessment. Legionella guide for landlords.

Extra requirements for HMOs

Houses in multiple occupation carry heavier duties. Mandatory licence conditions include giving the council a gas safety certificate each year and safety declarations about electrical appliances and alarms. Councils often add their own conditions, which can include:

• Fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, designed, installed and serviced to the relevant part of BS 5839, with servicing certificates. Fire alarm certificates explained.
• A fire risk assessment covering common parts.
• Proof of five-yearly EICRs.
• PAT testing of appliances you supply.

Your licence is the final word on what your council expects.

Changes to watch

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is being phased in:

• Since 1 May 2026, section 21 "no-fault" evictions have ended and most tenancies are periodic.
• From 15 December 2026, the new Private Rented Sector Database is due to open, region by region. Landlords will need to register each property and upload current gas safety records, electrical reports and EPCs. Having every certificate in one place will make this much easier.
• From 2035, a Decent Homes Standard will apply to private rentals.

Check GOV.UK for your region's registration date.

How to stop compliance slipping

The landlords who never get caught out are not more organised by nature. They have a system that tells them what is due. A good system should:

1. Store every certificate against the property, not in an inbox.
2. Show expiry dates in one view across the whole portfolio.
3. Warn you well before anything lapses, ideally 60 days out, so there is time to book a contractor.
4. Let you prove what was issued and when, if a council or tenant asks.

Landlords never pay for CertBox, and there is no limit on properties. When your gas engineer, electrician or fire alarm contractor issues a certificate through CertBox, they can send you a link the moment it is done. Add the PDF to the property in your account and its expiry is tracked with everything else. You can filter by address, certificate type or expiry date, and a weekly email lists everything due in the next 60 days. Every certificate issued through CertBox carries a QR code, so anyone can check it is genuine.

If you use a letting agent, CertBox for agents means certificates arrive by secure link when the contractor finishes, so nobody has to chase paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

What certificates does a landlord legally need in England?

At minimum: a valid gas safety record (if there is gas), an EICR, an EPC, and working smoke and CO alarms where required. HMOs and licensed properties have extra requirements.

Do I need PAT testing as a landlord?

For a standard single let, it is not a general legal requirement. It is good practice for appliances you supply, and HMO licences often require it.

How long should I keep old certificates?

By law, gas safety records must be kept until two further checks have been done. Keeping all compliance records for the whole tenancy and some time after is sensible in case of a dispute.

Can certificates be sent to tenants digitally?

Generally yes, as long as the tenant can open and keep them. For gas safety records, HSE says the tenant should be happy to receive them electronically and must get a paper copy if they ask. Keep proof of when you sent each one.

Sources

Checked against these on 2026-10-20.

• HSE: Gas safety record for landlords
• GOV.UK: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors, guidance
• GOV.UK: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, explanatory booklet for landlords
• GOV.UK: Domestic private rented property minimum energy efficiency standard
• GOV.UK: Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes, government response
• HSE: Legionella and landlords’ responsibilities
• Housing Act 2004, Schedule 4 (HMO licence conditions)
• GOV.UK: Implementing the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, roadmap

Corrected and updated 2026-10-20. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the relevant standards and consult qualified professionals for definitive requirements.