Landlord Compliance
Checklist 2025

The most important landlord compliance requirements in England are: (1) Annual gas safety check and certificate — failure is a criminal offence; (2) Right to rent checks — civil penalty up to £20,000 per occupier; (3) Deposit protection within 30 days — failure prevents use of Section 21 (now abolished) and gives tenant right to claim 1–3x deposit; (4) EPC rating of E or above — cannot let below E; (5) Working smoke alarms on every floor and CO alarms in rooms with solid fuel appliances; (6) How to Rent guide — failure prevents use of Section 21 (now abolished); (7) Renters' Rights Act 2025 compliance from 1 May 2026.

The consequences of non-compliance vary by requirement. Failure to carry out annual gas safety checks is a criminal offence. Failure to carry out right to rent checks results in civil penalties of up to £20,000 per occupier. Failure to protect the deposit gives the tenant the right to claim 1–3 times the deposit amount. Failure to provide the How to Rent guide previously prevented use of Section 21 (now abolished). Failure to comply with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 requirements (including PRS Ombudsman membership and property portal registration) can result in fines of up to £40,000.

Landlords must arrange an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The check must be carried out every 12 months. A copy of the gas safety certificate must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in. Landlords must keep records of gas safety checks for at least 2 years. Failure to carry out annual gas safety checks is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Since April 2020, landlords in England and Wales cannot let a property with an EPC rating below E. Properties rated F or G cannot be let — this applies to new tenancies and renewals. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C by 2028 for new tenancies (2030 for existing tenancies), but this has not yet been legislated. Landlords who let a property below the minimum EPC rating face fines of up to £30,000.

From 1 May 2026, landlords in England must comply with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 requirements including: no more fixed-term tenancies (all tenancies become periodic); Section 21 abolished (possession only via Section 8 grounds); rent increases only once per year using Section 13 procedure with 2 months' notice; mandatory membership of the new PRS Ombudsman scheme; registration on the new Privately Rented Property Portal; and compliance with anti-discrimination rules (no refusing tenants on benefits or with children). Fines for non-compliance can reach £40,000.

Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords must provide a written statement of tenancy terms before the tenancy begins. Previously, a written tenancy agreement was not strictly required by law (a verbal agreement was legally valid), but it was always strongly recommended. A written tenancy agreement protects both landlord and tenant by clearly setting out the terms of the tenancy, including rent, notice periods and obligations. We draft tenancy agreements that comply with current legislation.