The 2026 landlord compliance checklist for England

Letting a property in England comes with a long list of legal duties, and with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 reshaping the rules, keeping on top of them matters more than ever. This is a plain-English checklist of the main things to have in place, split into what to sort before you let and what to keep up during the tenancy. It is a summary rather than a complete legal guide, so treat it as a starting point and check the current rules on GOV.UK.

Before you let

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You need a valid EPC to market and let a property, and you must give a copy to the tenant. The current minimum rating is E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, though the standards and their timetable have been subject to change. A higher minimum of C has been proposed for future years but has been under review, so check the latest MEES guidance on GOV.UK before you rely on E.
• Gas safety record (CP12). If the property has gas, you need an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the record given to new tenants before they move in.
• Electrical safety report (EICR). A satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report, with any C1, C2 or FI issues put right.
• Right to Rent checks. Following the Home Office Right to Rent guidance, check that every adult who will live in the property has the right to rent in England before the tenancy begins, including any repeat checks for time-limited status. This is a simplified overview, so use the official guidance for the document lists and method.
• Deposit protection. If you take a deposit, protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give the tenant the prescribed information. Getting this wrong can affect your ability to recover possession and may lead to penalties, so it is worth doing carefully.
• "How to Rent" guide. Give the tenant the latest version of the government's How to Rent guide.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. A smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, all working at the start of the tenancy.
• Legionella risk. Assess and manage the risk from legionella bacteria in the water system in line with HSE guidance. For most domestic lets a simple, proportionate risk assessment is enough.

During the tenancy

• Renew the gas safety check every year and give the tenant the new record.
• Renew the EICR at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so.
• Keep the home in good repair and meet the Decent Homes Standard, which is due to be extended to private rented homes, and deal with serious hazards within the timescales set out in the new rules as they come into force. The detail is set out in regulations and guidance, so check GOV.UK for what applies and from when.
• Handle rent increases correctly. Under the incoming rules, increases are due to be limited to once a year and to follow a set statutory process. Existing tenancies and contractual terms can work differently, so check the current position before you serve a notice.
• Register and join redress. Expect to register on the Private Rented Sector Database and to join the landlord Ombudsman scheme as these measures come into force. Check GOV.UK for the commencement dates.
• Keep your records and notices in order. As Section 21 is removed, a growing number of possession routes and defences are linked to valid grounds, correctly served notices and your safety and information documents, so a missing document can create problems or delays.

Why records are the thread through all of it

Almost every item on this list produces a document with a date on it, and almost every problem landlords run into comes from a document that expired without anyone noticing, or one that could not be found when it was needed. With fixed terms giving way to rolling tenancies, there is no natural renewal moment to jog your memory, so the responsibility to track the dates sits squarely with you.

Keeping every certificate, date and document in one place, with a reminder before each date you have added falls due, is what turns this checklist from a source of worry into a set of small, routine tasks. That is exactly what VEYLO X is built to do. It is a record-keeping tool: it keeps your documents together and reminds you ahead of the dates you add. It does not give legal advice or decide whether you meet your obligations, and the decisions always stay with you.