Lettings compliance checklist for UK estate agencies (England, 2026)
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026
Last checked: 30 September 2026. This is general guidance for England, not legal advice. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. Always check GOV.UK for the current position.
A quick checklist of what a letting agency should have on file for every rented property, and for every new tenancy.
1. Property safety (per property)
| Obligation | What the rule says | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety | An annual check on each gas appliance and flue by a registered engineer. Give the tenant a copy before they move in, or within 28 days of the check. | Every year |
| Electrical safety (EICR) | The electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified person. Give tenants proof. | At least every 5 years |
| Smoke alarms | One on each storey. | Keep working |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | In any room with a solid fuel appliance, such as a wood burner or coal fire. | Keep working |
| EPC | A property can't be let with an EPC rating below E, unless a valid exemption is registered. | Check it is in date before marketing |
Watch: the government has set out plans for privately rented homes to reach EPC band C by 2030 (up to a £10,000 cap per property). Treat this as planned, not yet in force, and check GOV.UK for updates.
2. Before a tenancy starts
- Right to Rent check on every adult tenant, before the tenancy begins. If someone can only stay in the UK for a limited time, do the check within the 28 days before it starts.
- Holding deposit and tenancy fees: follow the Tenant Fees Act rules.
- Written tenancy agreement with the required information.
- Government information sheet: landlords must give tenants the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet (published on GOV.UK). For most existing tenants the deadline was 31 May 2026.
3. After a tenancy starts
- Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
- Give the tenant the prescribed information about the scheme.
- Return the deposit within 10 days of agreeing the amount with the tenant.
- Give the tenant proof of the gas safety check and the electrical inspection (see section 1).
4. Since 1 May 2026: what changed
The Renters' Rights Act took effect in phases.
- Section 21 "no-fault" evictions have ended. Landlords need a statutory ground, backed by evidence.
- Tenancies are now periodic. Assured shorthold tenancies no longer exist, and existing ones became assured periodic tenancies.
- Rent rises only through the statutory Section 13 notice (Form 4A), at most once every 12 months, with at least two months' notice.
- Rental bidding is banned. Don't accept offers above the advertised rent.
- Discrimination against families with children or people on benefits is unlawful.
- Pets: tenants can request permission, and landlords can't unreasonably refuse.
Note on the How to Rent guide: GOV.UK withdrew the older How to Rent guide on 1 May 2026 and points to guidance on assured periodic tenancies instead. Check the current GOV.UK guidance before you issue documents.
5. Coming next
| Change | Status |
|---|---|
| PRS Database: landlords must register before letting | Regional rollout begins late 2026. First region: West Midlands from 15 December 2026, subject to regulations approval. |
| PRS Landlord Ombudsman: mandatory membership | Date to be confirmed by government. |
| Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law in private renting | Dates not yet confirmed. |
6. Keep it all in one place
The hard part isn't knowing the rules. It's knowing, on any day, which property is missing what. A simple test: can you list every property with a gas certificate expiring in the next 60 days?
Habitix tracks these obligations alongside each property record, flags what's missing or expiring, and can send reminders, so nothing gets missed. See Habitix.
Sources (GOV.UK): Your landlord's safety responsibilities · Electrical safety standards: guide for landlords · Minimum energy efficiency standard · Check a tenant's Right to Rent documents · Deposit protection · Renters' Rights Act roadmap · Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026