Landlord compliance checklist UK (England and Scotland, 2026)
Every certificate, check and registration a UK landlord needs, with how often each one renews and where England and Scotland differ.
UK landlords now have more than a dozen legal duties, several of which renew on different cycles. Most problems don't come from landlords who don't care. They come from a date nobody wrote down. Use this checklist to see what applies to you, then put every renewal date somewhere that will remind you.
The checklist
| Requirement | How often | England | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record | Every 12 months | Required | Required |
| Electrical inspection (EICR) | At least every 5 years | Required | Required |
| PAT testing (appliances you supply) | Commonly every 5 years | Recommended | Required |
| Energy Performance Certificate | Valid 10 years | Required, rated E+ | Required |
| Smoke alarms | Test at move-in | One per storey | Interlinked system |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | Test at move-in | Rooms with a fixed combustion appliance | Where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance or flue |
| Legionella risk assessment | Review regularly | Required duty | Required duty |
| Deposit protection | Each tenancy | Within 30 days | Within 30 working days |
| Right to Rent checks | Each new adult occupier | Required | Not applicable |
| Landlord registration | Renew every 3 years | PRS Database being introduced | Required before letting |
| HMO / selective licence | Usually 5 years | If your council requires it | HMO licence if 3+ unrelated people |
Wales and Northern Ireland have their own variations. Always confirm the detail for your property on gov.uk or mygov.scot.
Safety certificates
Gas safety (every 12 months)
A Gas Safe registered engineer must check every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide each year. Give tenants a copy within 28 days, and new tenants before they move in. Full details, including costs, are in our gas safety certificate guide.
Electrical safety (at least every five years)
A qualified electrician must inspect and test the fixed electrical installation and issue an EICR. If it identifies urgent or remedial work (C1, C2 or FI codes), you normally have 28 days, or less if the report says so, to fix it and get written confirmation. In Scotland, the Repairing Standard also requires PAT testing of any portable appliances you supply.
Energy Performance Certificate (valid ten years)
You need a valid EPC before marketing the property, and tenants must get a copy. In England and Wales the minimum rating to let is E, unless you register an exemption. Stricter targets have been proposed for the coming years, so factor energy upgrades into long-term plans.
Alarms
England: at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers). Check they work on the first day of each tenancy, and repair or replace them promptly when a tenant reports a fault.
Scotland: an interlinked system. That means a smoke alarm in the room used most during the day, a smoke alarm in every hallway and landing, and a heat alarm in the kitchen, plus a CO alarm wherever there's a carbon-fuelled appliance or flue.
Money and paperwork
Deposit protection
Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days in England, or 30 working days of the tenancy start in Scotland. Getting this wrong can cost up to three times the deposit.
Right to Rent (England only)
Check that every adult who will live in the property has the right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts, and keep copies of what you checked.
Registration and licensing
In Scotland, register on the Scottish Landlord Register before you let, and renew every three years. In England, the Renters' Rights Act introduces a Private Rented Sector Database and a landlord ombudsman, being phased in. Check your council's rules too: HMOs need a licence, and some areas run additional or selective licensing schemes.
Repairs and property condition
Beyond certificates, the property must be safe and fit to live in. In England that means the fitness-for-habitation standard and, as it's extended to private renting, the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law timescales for damp and mould. In Scotland it means the Repairing Standard. Respond to repair reports quickly and keep a dated record of what you did. That record is your best defence in any dispute.
Furniture, fire and other duties
- Furniture you supply must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations.
- Houses in multiple occupation have extra fire-safety duties, such as fire doors, emergency lighting and a fire risk assessment.
- Landlord insurance isn't a legal requirement, but most mortgage lenders insist on buildings cover.
Frequently asked questions
What certificates does a landlord legally need in the UK?
At minimum: a gas safety record every 12 months (if there is gas), an Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every five years, and a valid Energy Performance Certificate. In Scotland you also need PAT testing of appliances you supply, and a Legionella risk assessment is expected everywhere.
How often does an EICR need to be renewed?
At least every five years, or sooner if the previous report recommends it. Tenants must receive a copy within 28 days of the inspection in England, and new tenants before they move in.
What is the minimum EPC rating for a rental property?
In England and Wales, a privately rented property must have an EPC rating of E or above unless a valid exemption is registered. The government has proposed raising this to C for rentals by 2030, so check the latest position before investing in upgrades.
Do landlords in Scotland need to register?
Yes. Every private landlord in Scotland must register with the local council where the property is, through the Scottish Landlord Register, before letting. Registration lasts three years.
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