- There are 7 distinct legal compliance requirements every landlord must meet before letting a property in England.
- Gas Safety Certificates must be renewed every 12 months — there is no grace period and no exceptions.
- EICR (electrical safety) certificates are required every 5 years. Remedial works must be completed within 28 days of an unsatisfactory report.
- Right to Rent checks are mandatory before every tenancy — failure can result in fines of up to £20,000 per tenant.
- Failure to protect a tenant's deposit within 30 days leaves you unable to serve a valid Section 21 notice.
Your 2025 Compliance at a Glance
Use this table as your master reference. Every row is a legal requirement. Every gap is a liability.
| Requirement | Renewal Period | Maximum Fine | Enforced By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Safety Certificate | Every 12 months | Up to £6,000 + imprisonment | HSE / Local Authority |
| EICR (Electrical) | Every 5 years | Up to £30,000 | Local Authority |
| Energy Performance Certificate | Every 10 years | Up to £5,000 (rising to £30,000) | Local Authority / Trading Standards |
| Smoke Alarm (per floor) | Test at tenancy start | Up to £5,000 | Local Authority |
| CO Alarm (solid fuel rooms) | Test at tenancy start | Up to £5,000 | Local Authority |
| Right to Rent Check | Before each tenancy | Up to £20,000 per tenant | Home Office |
| Deposit Protection | Within 30 days of receipt | 1–3× deposit amount | Courts |
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require every landlord with gas appliances to commission an annual check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The resulting certificate — a CP12 — must be issued within 12 months of the previous one, handed to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and given to new tenants before they move in.
Letting a property without a valid Gas Safety Certificate is a criminal offence, not just a civil penalty. Landlords can face prosecution, unlimited fines, and up to six months in prison. The HSE takes enforcement seriously — particularly in cases where a tenant has suffered harm.
EICR – Electrical Installation Condition Report
Since April 2021, all private rental properties in England must have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), renewed at least every 5 years. The EICR assesses the condition of all fixed electrical wiring, consumer units, sockets, and light fittings. If the report is returned as "Unsatisfactory" or "Requires Improvement", remedial works must be completed — and a new satisfactory EICR issued — within 28 days.
- A copy of the EICR must be given to tenants within 28 days of the inspection
- New tenants must receive a copy before they move in
- Local authorities can request a copy within 7 days — you must provide it
- Properties with a current satisfactory EICR issued before June 2020 may still be valid — check the expiry date
Propsnap's accredited electrical engineers carry out EICR assessments across all London boroughs, with results issued within 24 hours and remedial works quoted on the same visit. Book online or call 0207 088 8299.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
All privately rented properties in England and Wales must have a valid EPC, renewed at least every 10 years. Under the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), properties must achieve a minimum of EPC Band E before a tenancy can legally commence. The government's proposed upgrade to Band C by 2028 will significantly raise this bar for landlords across London.
Properties currently rated Band D, E, F or G will need improvement works to reach Band C before 2028. London's Victorian and Edwardian housing stock is disproportionately affected — begin your assessment now to spread costs and access government grant funding before queues build.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Since October 2022, updated regulations require landlords to install:
- A smoke alarm on every floor of the property that is used as living accommodation
- A carbon monoxide alarm in every room containing a fixed combustion appliance (gas boiler, open fire, wood burner) — this now includes gas boilers, not just solid fuel appliances
- All alarms must be tested and confirmed working at the start of each new tenancy
Local authorities can issue a remedial notice and fine landlords up to £5,000 per breach if alarms are missing or non-functional at tenancy start.
Right to Rent Checks
Under the Immigration Act 2014, all private landlords in England must check that every adult occupant has the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. This applies to every adult living in the property — not just the named tenant on the tenancy agreement.
- For UK and Irish nationals: a valid passport or birth certificate is sufficient
- For EU/EEA nationals post-Brexit: use the Home Office online service to verify settled or pre-settled status
- For non-EEA nationals: check the visa/biometric residence permit and note the expiry date — a follow-up check will be needed before expiry
- Keep a dated copy of all documents checked — digital copies are acceptable
From January 2024, fines for Right to Rent breaches increased sharply: up to £10,000 per occupant for a first offence and £20,000 per occupant for repeat offences. Landlords who knowingly let to someone without the right to rent can face unlimited fines and up to 5 years imprisonment.
Deposit Protection
Any tenancy deposit taken for an assured shorthold tenancy must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. The three approved schemes are:
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS) — custodial and insured options
- MyDeposits — insured scheme
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) — custodial and insured options
Tenants must also receive Prescribed Information — a document detailing which scheme protects their deposit and how to reclaim it — within 30 days of the deposit being taken. Failing either requirement means courts can order you to pay 1–3 times the deposit amount as a penalty, and you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice.
HMO Licences
If your rental property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), additional licensing requirements apply on top of the standard 7 compliance requirements. A mandatory HMO licence is required if the property is occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more separate households sharing facilities.
In London, many boroughs operate Additional Licensing and Selective Licensing schemes that extend requirements to smaller properties. Check with your local authority — Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Lewisham, and Southwark all have extensive additional licensing areas.
Need Your Compliance Certificates Sorted?
Propsnap arranges Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, and inventory services across all London boroughs — often with same-week availability and digital delivery within 24 hours.
Penalties at a Glance
Non-compliance is not just a risk — it is an inevitability for landlords who don't maintain their certificates. Here's what's at stake:
Your 2025 Compliance Action Plan
- Audit all current certificates — list every property, each certificate type, and the expiry date. A simple spreadsheet is sufficient.
- Renew gas safety certificates annually — diarise the renewal date 6 weeks in advance to allow time to book a Gas Safe engineer.
- Book EICR assessments — if your last EICR was more than 4 years ago, book now. Remedial works can take weeks to schedule.
- Check EPC ratings — use the government's EPC register to check your current certificate and band. Properties below Band C should commission a retrofit assessment.
- Test smoke and CO alarms — at the start of every new tenancy, test all alarms and record the result in your check-in report or inventory.
- Complete Right to Rent checks — before every tenancy, for every adult occupant. Keep dated copies of all documents.
- Protect deposits on day 30 — set a calendar reminder for day 28 after receiving any deposit to ensure protection and Prescribed Information are both completed in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Inventory
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