Letting agent compliance checklist for England (2026)

Most compliance failures in lettings are not about knowing the rules. They are about a date slipping: a gas safety record that ran out, an electrical report that never reached the new tenant, a deposit protected on day 31.

This checklist brings together the recurring duties for a residential let in England, with the deadline for each and a link to the official guidance. Checked against gov.uk and HSE on 16 September 2026.

England only. Some duties, such as Right to Rent, apply only in England, and others differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The checklist at a glance

Gas safety

• A Gas Safe registered engineer must check gas appliances and flues every 12 months.
• Give the record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in.
• Keep records for at least two years.

HSE's guidance lists what the record must contain, including each appliance checked, the engineer's name, registration number and signature, the date, and any defects and action taken.

Electrical safety

Under the electrical safety standards regulations, landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person. The report must go:

• to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection
• to new tenants before they occupy the property
• to a prospective tenant within 28 days of a request
• to the local council within 7 days of a request

Remedial or further investigative work must be done within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so, with written confirmation to the tenant and council within 28 days of completing it. gov.uk guidance lists a maximum financial penalty of up to £40,000.

Energy Performance Certificate

• A property needs a valid EPC to be let, and tenants must be given it.
• Since 1 April 2020, landlords cannot let or continue to let a property rated below E unless a valid exemption is registered.
• The spending cap on improvements is £3,500 including VAT. Exemptions, such as the high-cost exemption, must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.
• Penalties reach up to £5,000 per property.

The government has said it is looking at raising standards towards EPC band C by 2030. Watch for confirmed rules before advising landlords to plan around a date.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Landlords must fit and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022:

• a smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation
• a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation that has a fixed combustion appliance (gas cookers excepted)
• alarms checked to be working on the first day of each new tenancy
• faulty alarms repaired or replaced once reported

Deposit protection

• Protect a deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it: the Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits or the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
• Give the tenant the prescribed information within the same 30 days.
• Return the deposit within 10 days of agreeing how much the tenant gets back.
• Deposits are capped at 5 weeks' rent where annual rent is under £50,000, and 6 weeks' rent at £50,000 or more. Our free deposit cap calculator works it out.

Tenants whose deposit was not protected can take the landlord to court, and the court can order compensation of between one and three times the deposit. Our deposit protection guide covers the detail.

Right to Rent

• Check that every adult occupier has the right to rent before the tenancy starts. For someone with a time-limited right, the check must be made in the 28 days before the tenancy begins, with follow-up checks later.
• A letting agent becomes responsible for the checks if the landlord asks them to and the agreement is in writing.
• Keep copies of the documents checked.

Tenancy information after the Renters' Rights Act

• New assured periodic tenancies need written terms.
• Tenancies that existed before 1 May 2026 needed the government's Renters' Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026.

See our Renters' Rights Act guide for the full set of changes.

HMO licensing

A large HMO (five or more people forming more than one household) needs a mandatory licence from the council. Many councils also run additional or selective licensing schemes covering smaller HMOs or whole areas. Check the council's website for every property you take on, and diary each licence's expiry and conditions.

Turning the checklist into a system

A checklist only helps if someone looks at it at the right time. For a portfolio, that means a reminder before each expiry and a record of what was sent to whom.

Letfold tracks gas safety, electrical, EPC and HMO licence expiry dates per property and sends reminders before they run out, alongside Right to Rent follow-ups and contractor insurance that blocks a job from being assigned once it lapses.

Frequently asked questions

How often does a rental property need a gas safety check?

Every 12 months. The record goes to existing tenants within 28 days of the check and to new tenants before they move in.

How often is an EICR needed for a rented home in England?

At least every 5 years. Existing tenants get the report within 28 days, new tenants before they move in, and the council within 7 days if it asks.

What is the minimum EPC rating to let a property?

E. A property rated F or G cannot be let unless a valid exemption is registered.

How long does a landlord have to protect a deposit?

30 days from receiving it, including giving the tenant the prescribed information.

Can a letting agent be responsible for Right to Rent checks?

Yes, if the landlord asks the agent to carry them out and the agreement is in writing.

Sources

Checked on 16 September 2026:

• Gas safety record (HSE)
• Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance (gov.uk)
• Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard (gov.uk)
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: guidance for landlords (gov.uk)
• Tenancy deposit protection (gov.uk)
• Check your tenant's right to rent (gov.uk)
• Renting out your property: landlord responsibilities (gov.uk)

This article is general information, not legal advice.