UK lettings law is dense and keeps moving, and the Renters' Rights Act reset much of it on 1 May 2026. This checklist is the landlord's at-a-glance view: what you must have, when, and the consequence of missing it. For the in-order walkthrough, see the Renters' Rights Act landlord guide. Last reviewed: 9 June 2026.
Before the property is marketed
| Requirement | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EPC of E or better | You cannot market the property without a valid EPC, and it must currently be at least an E (unless a valid exemption is registered). The minimum rises to EPC C by 1 October 2030. | gov.uk MEES guidance |
| EPC shown in the advert | The EPC rating must appear in any advertisement - online listing, brochure or window card. | Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 |
| Licensing | A house in multiple occupation (broadly 5+ occupiers forming 2+ households) needs a mandatory HMO licence everywhere. Many councils also run selective or additional licensing of ordinary lets - this is set locally, so check your council. | gov.uk HMO + your council |
Before the tenant moves in
| Requirement | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) | Annual check of all gas appliances and flues by a Gas Safe registered engineer; the current record given to the tenant before they move in. | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 |
| EICR | An Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every 5 years; remedial work on any C1/C2/FI fault within 28 days. | Electrical Safety Standards in the PRS (England) Regulations 2020 |
| Smoke and CO alarms | A smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (a gas boiler or wood burner - gas cookers are excluded). Working at the start of each tenancy. | Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (amended 2022) |
| Right to Rent check | Every adult occupier in England, before the tenancy starts; repeat where someone's right is time-limited. | gov.uk Right to Rent |
| Information Sheet 2026 | Serve the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 - this replaced the withdrawn "How to Rent" guide. Existing tenants had to be served by 31 May 2026; new tenants at the start of the tenancy. Serve the actual PDF, not a link. | Information Sheet 2026 guide |
| Inventory | Not legally required but strongly recommended - a detailed inventory plus dated photos is the best defence against a disputed deposit deduction. | Best practice |
Within 30 days of receiving the deposit
| Requirement | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit protected | In DPS, mydeposits or TDS, within 30 days. The deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks where annual rent is £50,000+). Failing to protect can mean a court order to repay 1-3x the deposit, and incomplete deposit paperwork can undermine a later possession claim. | gov.uk deposit protection |
| Prescribed Information served | A written notice naming the scheme and how to reclaim the deposit, served within the same 30 days. Missing it carries the same penalty as failing to protect. | The Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007 |
Ongoing during the tenancy
- Keep the structure, exterior and the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water in repair (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, s11).
- Renew the Gas Safety check before each anniversary, and the EICR before its 5-year expiry.
- Re-check Right to Rent where the original was time-limited.
- Respond to repairs in a reasonable time - no heating or hot water in winter is a same-day matter; a dripping tap can wait a few days.
- Give at least 24 hours' notice before visiting, except in a genuine emergency.
If you need possession
Section 21 "no-fault" eviction was abolished on 1 May 2026. The only route to possession now is a Section 8 notice on a valid statutory ground, served on the prescribed form (Form 3A). The grounds, notice periods and evidence each requires were reset by the Renters' Rights Act and some carry restrictions, so confirm the current detail before serving anything - an invalid notice can cost you months. See gov.uk on possession notices, and take legal advice if you are unsure. The deposit scheme's free dispute service handles end-of-tenancy deposit disagreements; possession orders go through the County Court and are slow.
Recent and upcoming changes
- Renters' Rights Act - in force from 1 May 2026: Section 21 abolished, tenancies now periodic, rental bidding wars banned, rent in advance capped at one month. See the landlord guide.
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - bans "drip pricing" in adverts; all mandatory costs must be in the headline rent.
- EPC C by 2030 - the government confirmed on 21 January 2026 that the MEES minimum will rise from E to C by 1 October 2030, with a cost cap per property. Plan improvements early.
If anything here is unclear or your council's rules differ, your local authority's housing team is the authoritative source for local licensing, and the linked gov.uk pages for everything else. When you are ready, you can list your rental yourself or bring in a local agent. Get in touch if you spot anything out of date.
This is general information, not legal advice. Letting rules change and every situation differs - always check the current gov.uk position, and take professional advice, before relying on it.