- Xpert Hood Real Estate
- 9 November 2026 · Updated 10 November 2026
- 4 min read
- Landlords
Why a checklist helps
Letting a home comes with legal duties as well as paperwork. Missing a safety check or a document can leave a landlord unable to end a tenancy properly, and more importantly can put the people living in the home at risk.
This checklist covers the main items for a standard residential let in England. Rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and they can change, so use it as a starting point and confirm the current rules on GOV.UK.
Gas safety certificate
If the property has any gas appliance, pipework or flue, the gas installation must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The engineer issues a Gas Safety Certificate (sometimes called a CP12).
Give new tenants a copy before they move in, and give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of each yearly check. Keep your own copies for at least two years.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An EPC is needed before a property is marketed to let. It rates the home from A to G and is valid for 10 years. In most cases a home must reach at least a rating of E to be let to a new tenant.
If the rating is low, loft insulation, a boiler upgrade or draught-proofing are common ways to improve it. Government energy-efficiency requirements for landlords are under review, so check the latest position before you plan work.
Electrical safety report (EICR)
The fixed electrical installation (wiring, consumer unit, sockets and switches) must be inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified electrician. The result is an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR.
Give a copy to your tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before they move in. If the report lists urgent faults, they must be put right within the time stated, usually 28 days.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
You need a working smoke alarm on every floor of the home that is used as living space. You also need a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a boiler or a wood burner (gas cookers are not included).
Check that the alarms work on the first day of each new tenancy. After that, tenants are responsible for testing them and telling you if something is wrong.
Right to Rent checks
In England, landlords must check that every adult who will live in the property has the right to rent here. The check must be done before the tenancy starts, and you should keep a copy of the evidence.
The Home Office has online and in-person ways of checking. Treat everyone the same way to avoid discrimination.
Deposit protection and tenant paperwork
If you take a deposit, it must be protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receiving it. You must also give the tenant the scheme’s prescribed information within the same 30 days.
At the start of the tenancy, give tenants the current version of the “How to Rent” guide, the gas safety certificate, the EPC and the EICR. A written tenancy agreement and a signed inventory protect both sides.
Keep a record and diary the renewal dates
Store every certificate, the date it was issued, who carried out the work, and the date the next one is due. A simple calendar reminder for the gas check each year and the EICR every five years prevents most problems.
Tenancy law in England has been changing, so it is worth checking the current guidance on GOV.UK before you start a new tenancy or serve any notice.
How Xpert Hood can help
We can arrange gas safety checks, energy performance certificates and electrical safety reports, keep the certificates on record, and prepare the tenancy paperwork. Our services are listed on the Services page, or you can message us on WhatsApp or through the Contact page.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For a specific situation, check GOV.UK or take advice from a qualified professional.