What compliance certificates does a UK landlord need?

Most rentals need a valid Gas Safety Record (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), and an EPC of at least E. HMOs also need a licence and fire risk assessment.

How often does an EICR need renewing?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be renewed at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report recommends it.

What is the minimum EPC rating to let a property?

A property must currently have an EPC rating of E or above to be let legally in England and Wales, with proposals to raise the minimum in future.

Does the Renters' Rights Act change compliance requirements?

Yes. It introduces the PRS Database, a mandatory redress scheme, and Awaab's Law hazard-response timescales alongside existing gas, electrical and EPC duties.

Landlord Compliance Checker — Know Your Legal Obligations Across Every Property

Staying compliant as a UK landlord has never been more complex. Gas Safety Certificates, Electrical Installation Condition Reports, Energy Performance Certificates, HMO licensing, Right to Rent checks, deposit protection, fire safety assessments — the list of legal obligations grows every year, and the penalties for missing a deadline have never been higher.

This Compliance Checker gives you a clear picture of your current compliance position across your key legal obligations — in under three minutes, for any property type.

Why compliance tracking matters more than ever

The regulatory landscape for private landlords in England changed significantly in 2025 and 2026. The Renters' Rights Act abolished Section 21 no-fault evictions, introduced new mandatory grounds for possession, and placed increased emphasis on landlords being able to evidence compliance at the point of any possession claim. A landlord who cannot demonstrate that all required certificates were in date, all deposits were protected, and all required notices were served correctly is in a significantly weaker legal position.

The revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which came into force on 23 June 2026, simplified hazard categories from 29 to 21 and introduced clearer civil penalty provisions — with financial penalties for serious hazards reaching up to £40,000 in the most serious cases.

The Private Rented Sector Database, expected to begin regional rollout in late 2026 with mandatory registration from 2027, will require landlords to maintain structured records of their properties and compliance status. Landlords who are already maintaining proper compliance records will find registration straightforward. Those who are not will face a significant administrative task.

What this checker covers

The RentVault Compliance Checker assesses your obligations across eight areas:

Gas Safety Certificate — required annually for every property with a gas supply. Must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and a copy provided to tenants within 28 days of issue. (GOV.UK gas safety guidance)
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — required every five years for all privately rented properties in England. Must be carried out by a qualified electrician and remedial work completed within 28 days of any issues identified.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — required for every rental property. Must be rated E or above for new tenancies. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be let. A new EPC is required every ten years or when the property is sold or re-let. (GOV.UK EPC requirements)
HMO licensing — mandatory for properties occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households, sharing facilities. Additional licensing schemes vary by local authority. Licensing conditions must be met and maintained throughout the licence period.
Right to Rent checks — mandatory for all new tenancies in England. Landlords must check that all adult occupiers have the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy begins and retain evidence of the check. (GOV.UK Right to Rent checks)
Deposit protection — all assured shorthold tenancy deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. The prescribed information must be provided to tenants within the same period. (GOV.UK deposit protection schemes)
Fire safety — smoke alarms required on every floor, carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel appliances. HMOs have additional fire safety requirements including fire doors, emergency lighting, and fire risk assessments.
Tenancy documentation — assured shorthold tenancy agreements, How to Rent guides, gas safety certificates, EPC certificates, and deposit prescribed information must all be provided to tenants at the correct point in the tenancy lifecycle.

Not just reminders — proof that you complied

The compliance checker identifies gaps. RentVault fixes them — and keeps the evidence. Every certificate uploaded, every inspection logged, every repair instructed and completed is stored in RentVault's compliance history for that property. When a council inspector, a tribunal, or a tenant's solicitor asks for evidence that you complied, you can produce a complete record immediately.

This is increasingly the standard that landlords are held to. Compliance is not just about doing the right thing — it is about being able to prove you did.

If you also receive rental income above the reporting thresholds, our MTD Readiness Checker shows when Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to you.

Start tracking your compliance obligations across every property with RentVault — 14-day free trial, no card required.