Landlord legal requirements checklist (England, 2026)

Written by the Quidtrail team · Facts last checked 18 October 2026

The short answer: if you let a home privately in England, you must, among other things: fit smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms where needed; get a gas safety check at least every 12 months; get the electrics inspected at least every 5 years; have a valid EPC rated E or above (unless exempt); protect the deposit within 30 days; and carry out right to rent checks. The Renters' Rights Act changes took effect on 1 May 2026, and a landlord registration service starts rolling out from 15 December 2026 (GOV.UK; GOV.UK).

The checklist

Fire safety: smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

The rules come from the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended in 2022 (legislation.gov.uk). The government's guidance for landlords says (GOV.UK):

• The regulations don't specify mains-wired or battery alarms. The government recommends smoke alarms compliant with BS 5839-6 and CO alarms compliant with BS 50291 (the booklet's wording; the current published standard is BS EN 50291-1:2018, see below). If you choose battery alarms, sealed-for-life batteries are the better option.
• The regulations don't specify where on each storey alarms go. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Councils can impose a fine of up to £5,000 if a landlord doesn't comply with a remedial notice.

What to look for when buying alarms

This is general guidance taken from the government booklet, not a list of products (GOV.UK):

• Smoke alarms: look for alarms marked as compliant with BS 5839-6.
• Carbon monoxide alarms: look for compliance with BS EN 50291-1. The booklet calls it "BS 50291". BSI lists the current domestic CO alarm standard as BS EN 50291-1:2018 (BSI).
• Battery alarms: the booklet says sealed-for-life batteries are the better option than replaceable batteries.
• Mains or battery: the law doesn't require either. Choose based on the building and the tenants.
• Tenants who are deaf or hard of hearing: alarms that alert by vibration or flashing light may be needed. Consider your duties under the Equality Act 2010.
• Heat detectors are not a replacement for smoke alarms.
• Placement: follow the manufacturer's instructions. In general, smoke alarms go on the ceiling of a hall or landing, and CO alarms at head height, about 1 to 3 metres from the appliance.

More detail: Landlord smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements.

Gas safety

From the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 36 (legislation.gov.uk), and HSE (HSE):

• Each gas appliance and flue you provide must have a safety check within 12 months of installation and then at intervals of no more than 12 months. For a new lease, it must have been checked in the 12 months before the lease starts.
• The check must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A record given after 1 April 2009 is only valid if the engineer is Gas Safe registered.
• Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of the check, and new tenants a copy before they move in.
• Keep each record until two further checks have been done. HSE describes this as at least 2 years, and longer if you use the flexibility to have a check done up to 2 months early.
• You can store and send the record electronically, but you have to provide a paper copy if a tenant asks for one.

Electrical safety

From the government's guidance (GOV.UK):

• Get the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person, to BS 7671 (18th edition), and get a report, usually an EICR.
• Give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days, to new tenants before they move in, to prospective tenants within 28 days of a request, and to the council within 7 days of a request.
• C1 or C2 codes, or FI (further investigation), mean you have to act: complete the work within 28 days (or sooner if the report says so), then send written confirmation to the tenant and the council within 28 days. C3 is a recommendation only.
• Councils can impose fines of up to £40,000.
• You don't need a new inspection before each new tenancy if the current report is less than 5 years old and needs no further work. The guidance does recommend a visual check.

Energy Performance Certificate and minimum rating

• You need an EPC before you market a property to rent. It's valid for 10 years (GOV.UK).
• Since 1 April 2020, you can't let, or keep letting, a property covered by the rules if it's rated F or G, unless you've registered a valid exemption. The cost cap is £3,500 including VAT. Fines go up to £5,000 per property (GOV.UK).
• The government has said it wants as many privately rented homes as possible to reach EPC C or equivalent by 2030, and is exploring options after a 2026 consultation. This isn't law yet (GOV.UK).

Deposits

• Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. In England and Wales the schemes are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (GOV.UK).
• Return the deposit within 10 days of agreeing the amount (GOV.UK).
• A court will only grant a possession order where a deposit was taken if the deposit rules have been met, the deposit has been returned, or a court challenge has been settled (GOV.UK).

Right to rent

Before a new tenancy starts, check all tenants aged 18 and over, even if they aren't named on the agreement. Don't check only the people you think aren't British, which is unlawful discrimination. For a tenant with time-limited permission to stay, do the check in the 28 days before the tenancy starts (GOV.UK).

Renters' Rights Act: changes from 1 May 2026

From the government's overview for landlords (GOV.UK):

• All assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies. You can't put an end date in a tenancy agreement.
• Section 21 "no fault" evictions have ended. You need a ground for possession and a section 8 notice. For many grounds the notice period is 4 months.
• You can't accept rent before the agreement is signed, discriminate against tenants with children or on benefits, or accept offers above the advertised rent.
• Rent increases: once a year at most, using Form 4A with at least 2 months' notice.
• Pets: tenants can ask to keep a pet, and you can only refuse for a valid reason.
• Rent repayment orders can now be up to 2 years' rent.

Register your rental property (from 15 December 2026)

If you let on an assured or regulated tenancy, you must register yourself and each property. The fee is £65 per property per year, and you upload your gas, electrical and EPC certificates. The deadline depends on where the property is. For example: West Midlands opens 15 Dec 2026, deadline 14 Mar 2027; London opens 15 Jul 2027, deadline 14 Oct 2027; South West opens 15 Aug 2027, deadline 14 Nov 2027. Each region has a 3-month window (GOV.UK Housing Hub).

Official guides to bookmark

All free, from GOV.UK and its official campaign site:

• Renting out a property: landlord responsibilities
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance for landlords and tenants
• Renting is changing: get ready to register (Housing Hub)

Related: MTD for Income Tax guide · MTD for jointly owned property

Last checked against GOV.UK, HSE and legislation.gov.uk on 18 October 2026. England only. Not legal or tax advice.