Every rented home in England needs a set of safety checks, each on its own cycle: some yearly, some every five years, some at the start of every tenancy. Miss one and you can face a council fine, or find you can't get your property back when you need to. This checklist covers every check, how often it's due and what changed in 2026.
Last checked 22 October 2026. General information for landlords in England, not legal advice. Rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.
| Check | How often | What to give your tenants |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety check | Every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer | A copy of the record within 28 days of the check, and before new tenants move in |
| Electrical inspection (EICR) | At least every 5 years, and before a new tenancy starts | A copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection, and before new tenants move in |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | Lasts 10 years. The home must be rated E or above to let | |
| Smoke alarms | One on every storey with living accommodation. Check they work on the day each tenancy begins | |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | In every room with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers). Check they work on the day each tenancy begins | |
| Deposit protection | Within 30 days of receiving the deposit | The prescribed information, within the same 30 days |
| Written information about the tenancy | Before each new tenancy is agreed | Written information about the key terms |
| Right to Rent check | Before each tenancy starts, for every adult | |
| Legionella risk assessment | Assess the risk. No certificate is needed |
How often: Every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer
Give tenants: A copy of the record within 28 days of the check, and before new tenants move in
How often: At least every 5 years, and before a new tenancy starts
Give tenants: A copy of the report within 28 days of the inspection, and before new tenants move in
How often: Lasts 10 years. The home must be rated E or above to let
How often: One on every storey with living accommodation. Check they work on the day each tenancy begins
How often: In every room with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers). Check they work on the day each tenancy begins
How often: Within 30 days of receiving the deposit
Give tenants: The prescribed information, within the same 30 days
How often: Before each new tenancy is agreed
Give tenants: Written information about the key terms
How often: Before each tenancy starts, for every adult
How often: Assess the risk. No certificate is needed
A rented home must have an EPC rated E or above, unless you've registered a valid exemption. An EPC lasts 10 years.
The government has confirmed that it will require all private tenancies to meet EPC C, or an equivalent standard, by 1 October 2030, subject to legislation, with a spending cap of £10,000 per property. Under the plan, a home rated C before 1 October 2029 stays compliant until that EPC expires.
You must assess and control the risk of legionella in your rental's water system. HSE says this doesn't need to be an in-depth assessment, testing isn't usually needed in homes, and no legionella certificate is required. Most landlords can do the assessment themselves, and HSE suggests keeping a record.
HSE: legionella and landlordsSee the Renters' Rights Act for landlords for the full picture.
England's new landlord register, the PRS Database, opens region by region from 15 December 2026, subject to Parliament approving the regulations. In the South East, landlords must register from 15 March 2027, with a deadline of 14 June 2027. The fee is £65 per property per year. You'll be asked for your gas safety, electrical and EPC details when you register.
Register dates for every region and what you'll needAdd each property you let to Home+, upload the certificates and you'll get a reminder before each one is due. Every certificate is stored next to its date, ready to send to tenants, your letting agent or the council.
Create your free Home+ account and get reminders before each check is due.