The Complete Compliance Checklist for UK Letting Agents
Every certificate, inspection, and legal requirement you need to manage — with frequencies, penalties, and practical tips for staying compliant.
At a glance: mandatory certificates
1.Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
MANDATORYEvery 12 months
Gas Safe registered engineer
All properties with gas appliances
Unlimited fine, up to 6 months imprisonment
Must be given to tenants within 28 days. Can renew up to 2 months early without losing anniversary date.
2.Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
MANDATORYEvery 5 years
Qualified electrician (registered with a competent person scheme)
All private rental properties in England
Up to £30,000 fine per breach
Required since 1 April 2021 for all existing tenancies. Must achieve at least a "Satisfactory" result (C3 or better on all circuits).
3.Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
MANDATORYEvery 10 years
Accredited domestic energy assessor
All rental properties (minimum rating E)
Up to £5,000 fine
Properties must achieve minimum E rating to be legally let. Exemptions available but must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.
4.Smoke Alarms
MANDATORYTest at start of each tenancy
Landlord or agent can test; professional for installation
At least one on every floor (England)
Up to £5,000 fine
Since October 2022, smoke alarms required on every floor of all rented properties in England. Must be working at the start of each tenancy.
5.Carbon Monoxide Alarms
MANDATORYTest at start of each tenancy
Landlord or agent can test; professional for installation
Any room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers)
Up to £5,000 fine
Required in any room with a gas boiler, gas fire, wood burner, or oil-fired appliance since October 2022.
6.Legionella Risk Assessment
Every 2 years (recommended)
Competent person (can be landlord with guidance, or specialist)
All rental properties
No specific fine, but duty of care applies
HSE guidance says landlords must assess and control risk. No formal certificate required but a documented assessment is strongly recommended.
7.Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
Annually (recommended)
Competent person or qualified electrician
All electrical appliances provided by the landlord
No specific fine, but may void insurance if incident occurs
Not technically a legal requirement but strongly recommended for any landlord-provided appliances. Required under general duty of care.
8.Fire Risk Assessment (HMOs)
MANDATORYAnnually (recommended)
Competent person or fire risk assessor
All Houses in Multiple Occupation
Unlimited fine, up to 2 years imprisonment for serious breaches
Mandatory for all HMOs under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Must cover common areas, escape routes, and fire detection.
Tips for staying compliant at scale
Use the 2-month window
For gas safety certificates, you can renew up to 2 months before expiry without losing your anniversary date. Build this buffer into your process to avoid last-minute scrambles.
Batch by month
Try to align certificate renewals. If you're onboarding new properties, schedule their first checks to fall in quieter months for your engineers.
Keep a compliance matrix
A single view showing every property and every certificate's status (valid, expiring, expired) is the most effective way to spot gaps before they become problems.
Automate reminders
Manual diary reminders fail as you grow. Use software that sends automatic alerts before each certificate expires, with customisable reminder intervals.
Track all your compliance in one place
AgentInABox gives you a real-time compliance matrix across your entire portfolio. Automatic expiry reminders, certificate uploads, tradesman assignments, and a full audit trail — purpose-built for UK letting agents.