For landlords in England
Landlord guides
The checks and repairs the law expects of a landlord, in plain English, each checked against the official guidance and dated.
Landlord gas safety certificates: what the law requires
Every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Give existing tenants a copy of the record within 28 days of the check, new tenants before they move in, and keep records for at least two years.
EICRs for landlords: electrical safety checks explained
Private landlords in England must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person, usually producing an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Anything it requires must be fixed within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: the rules for landlords
Private landlords in England must have at least one smoke alarm on every storey with a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers). Check they work on the day a tenancy starts, and repair or replace them once told they are faulty.
The minimum EPC rating for rental properties
Most privately rented homes in England must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of at least E. A landlord is not currently required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT on improvements; if E cannot be reached within that, the landlord can register an exemption.
What repairs is a landlord responsible for?
A landlord in England is always responsible for the structure and exterior, heating and hot water, gas appliances and pipes, electrical wiring, basins, sinks, baths and drains, and fire safety. Tenants pay for damage they, their family or their guests cause.
A landlord’s compliance calendar: what is due, and when
The recurring legal checks for a privately rented home in England: a gas safety check every 12 months, an electrical inspection at least every 5 years, alarms in working order on the first day of every tenancy, and an EPC rated E or better.
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