Some home safety checks are required by law, and many more are simply sensible. The rules also differ between owner-occupiers and landlords, and between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This guide sorts out what applies to you, and links to our detailed guides on alarms, gas, electrics, wood burners and the hidden risks in older homes.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Last reviewed: October 2026
The UK homeowner's safety and compliance checklist What you actually have to do on gas, electrics, fire and building safety, and what you don't.
Carbon monoxide alarm law What the rules say, and exactly where to put alarms.
Wood burner rules Where you stand on fuel, smoke control and insurance.
Many people assume homeowners have the same legal duties as landlords. Mostly they don't. A landlord must have an annual gas safety check and a regular electrical inspection, but an owner-occupier in England usually isn't legally required to have either. They are still some of the best-value safety checks you can do.
Letting a property? See the landlord register dates and checklist.
Alarms are cheap and save lives. In Scotland, every home must have interlinked smoke and heat alarms, and a carbon monoxide alarm where there is a fixed combustion appliance or flue. In England, a carbon monoxide alarm is required when a new or replacement fixed combustion appliance (other than a gas cooker) is installed. Whatever the rules, test alarms regularly and replace them by the date on the unit.
Gas and electrics are where faults are most dangerous and least visible. Any work on gas appliances must, by law, be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. For electrics, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) tells you the state of your wiring. It's useful when you buy or sell, and every few years in an older home.
Stoves and open fires bring their own rules on fuel, smoke and installation, and a chimney that isn't swept regularly is a fire risk. Your home insurer may also expect to see a sweeping certificate after a chimney fire.
Some risks can't be seen at all. Asbestos was widely used in building materials until it was banned in 1999, so homes built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it. Lead water pipes, radon gas in some areas, and outdated wiring are the other hidden risks worth checking, especially before you renovate.
Your duty of care doesn't stop at the back door. Trees, ponds, walls and play equipment all carry responsibilities towards visitors and neighbours.
Home+ builds your home's safety schedule, reminds you before each check or alarm replacement is due, and stores the certificates when the job is done.
Create your free Home+ account and get your home's safety schedule, with reminders before each check is due.