The 2026 landlord compliance checklist — every requirement in one place

Why compliance keeps getting harder

Landlord obligations in England have expanded significantly over the past few years. Between the Renters Rights Act, tightened EPC requirements, and evolving local licensing schemes, keeping track of every certificate and deadline is a job in itself. This checklist covers every major compliance requirement as of 2026 so you have a single reference point.

Gas safety certificate (CP12)

Every property with a gas supply must have an annual gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The certificate — known as a CP12 — must be renewed every 12 months. You are required to provide a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the check and to new tenants before they move in. Failure to comply is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

All privately rented properties in England must have a valid EICR. The inspection must be carried out by a qualified electrician at least every five years, or more frequently if the report recommends it. Any Category 1 or Category 2 faults identified must be remedied within 28 days, and the completed report must be provided to tenants within 28 days of the inspection. Local authorities can impose fines of up to forty thousand pounds for non-compliance.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Every rental property must have a valid EPC with a minimum rating of E. The government has confirmed this minimum will rise to C for all tenancies by 1 October 2030. EPCs are valid for 10 years, but if your property is near the threshold, it is worth getting a new assessment before reletting to avoid surprises. Properties that do not meet the minimum standard cannot be legally let unless a valid exemption is registered.

Deposit protection

If you take a tenancy deposit, it must be protected in one of the three government-approved schemes — DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS — within 30 days of receiving it. You must also serve the tenant with the prescribed information about the scheme within the same 30-day window. Failure to protect a deposit or serve the prescribed information means a court cannot make a possession order on most grounds, and you may face a penalty of up to three times the deposit amount.

Right to Rent checks

Before granting a tenancy, you must verify that every adult occupant has the right to rent in the UK. This means checking original identity documents or using the Home Office online checking service. Checks must be completed before the tenancy starts, and follow-up checks are required for tenants with time-limited immigration status. Civil penalties are up to ten thousand pounds per occupier for a first breach and up to twenty thousand pounds per occupier for repeat breaches.

Renters Rights Act — information sheet

The Renters Rights Act introduced new obligations around transparency and tenant information. Landlords must give tenants a written statement of terms before a new tenancy is agreed, and tenants whose tenancies began before 1 May 2026 had to be given the government's information sheet by 31 May 2026. This sheet covers the tenant's rights, the landlord's obligations, and details of relevant redress schemes. The Act also strengthened protections against retaliatory eviction and paves the way for the Decent Homes Standard to apply to the private rented sector, on a timetable still to be confirmed. Make sure your tenancy pack includes the latest version of the required documents.

Selective licensing

Many local authorities operate selective licensing schemes that require landlords to obtain a licence for each rental property in a designated area. Licensing conditions vary by council but typically include requirements around property condition, tenancy management, and anti-social behaviour. Operating without a licence where one is required can result in fines of up to forty thousand pounds and a rent repayment order. Check your local council's website to see whether your properties fall within a licensing area.

Fire safety

All rental properties must have working smoke alarms on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (such as a gas boiler or wood-burning stove). Alarms must be tested at the start of each tenancy. For properties with shared areas — such as blocks of flats — additional fire safety duties apply under the Fire Safety Act, including fire risk assessments and maintenance of fire doors and escape routes.

Legionella risk assessment

Landlords have a duty to assess the risk of legionella in their properties. While there is no specific legal requirement for a formal certificate, the Health and Safety Executive expects landlords to carry out a simple risk assessment. For most domestic properties, this involves checking that water temperatures are adequate, cold water tanks are covered, and the system is not producing stagnant water. A record of the assessment should be kept on file.

Smoke and CO alarms

Since October 2022, the requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in England have been strengthened. A smoke alarm must be installed on every storey of the property. A carbon monoxide alarm must be in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance — this now includes gas boilers, not just solid fuel appliances. Alarms must be in working order at the start of each new tenancy, and it is good practice to check them at periodic inspections.

Keeping on top of it all

The challenge is not understanding each individual requirement — it is tracking dozens of certificates across a portfolio, each with different expiry dates and renewal processes. A single missed gas safety renewal can mean a criminal prosecution. A forgotten EICR can mean a forty thousand pound fine. The cost of a compliance tracking system is trivial compared to the cost of a single enforcement action. Whether you use software or a spreadsheet, the important thing is that every property has a live compliance record that someone is actively monitoring.