How often do I need a gas safety certificate?

Every 12 months, by law. A Gas Safe registered engineer must inspect every gas appliance, flue and pipe in the property and issue you a CP12 certificate. You then have 28 days to share it with existing tenants, and you must give it to any new tenant before they move in.

How long does an EICR last?

A satisfactory EICR is valid for up to 5 years on a rental, or sooner if the report itself recommends an earlier re-test. You must also have a new EICR at every change of tenancy if the previous one is approaching expiry.

How long does an EPC last?

10 years. If you renovate, extend, or change the heating system you should commission a new one early — your old rating may no longer reflect the property and lenders sometimes request the latest version.

What's the minimum EPC rating for a rental property?

Currently E. Letting a property with an EPC rating of F or G to a new or existing tenant is a breach of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and can attract a civil penalty up to £5,000. Government proposals would raise the minimum to C for new tenancies in the coming years.

What happens if I miss a certificate renewal?

You expose yourself to fines (£6,000 per gas breach, up to £30,000 per EICR breach), invalidated insurance, and a Section 21 eviction notice that won't hold up in court. GetCerted prevents this by tracking every cert and booking the engineer 30 days before expiry.

Compliance guide · 8 min read

UK Landlord Compliance Checklist 2026

A no-fluff, print-it-and-tick-it list of every certificate, document and deposit step a UK landlord legally needs in 2026. Built for landlords in England — with notes where Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ.

1. Before you advertise the property

Valid EPC (rating E or better). Must be obtained before marketing. More on EPCs.
Right-to-rent ID checks ready. Required for every adult occupier in England.
Property licence. HMOs and selective-licence areas (parts of Blackpool included) need a licence before any tenancy starts.

2. Before they move in

Gas safety certificate (CP12). A copy to the tenant before move-in is the legal minimum. CP12 details.
Satisfactory Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR). Within the last 5 years, signed by a NICEIC/NAPIT contractor. EICR details.
Smoke alarms on every floor, carbon monoxide alarms in every room with a fixed combustion appliance — tested on the move-in date.
How to Rent guide (most recent edition) issued in writing.
Deposit protection. Within 30 days of receipt, with the prescribed information issued.
Tenancy agreement. Signed, dated, and a copy retained by both parties.

3. During the tenancy

Annual gas safety check. Within 10 months of the previous check — or up to 12 months max.
Repairs and maintenance. 24 hours for emergencies (heating in winter, leaks, electrical danger). Reasonable timeframes for everything else.
Inspections. 24 hours' notice in writing for non-emergency visits.
Insurance. Landlord/buildings cover that explicitly permits letting.

4. Before serving notice or eviction

Up-to-date EPC, gas safety certificate and How to Rent guide on the tenant's file — missing any of these can invalidate a Section 21.
Deposit must be in an approved scheme with the prescribed information served.
Notice must be in the correct form and served in the correct way for it to be valid.

5. Every renewal cycle

Gas Safety Certificate — every 12 months.
EICR — every 5 years (or sooner if the previous report says so).
EPC — every 10 years, plus any time you renovate.
Smoke / CO alarm checks — at the start of every new tenancy.
Licence renewals — HMO and selective licences typically every 5 years.

The £30,000 mistake landlords make

Letting a single EICR lapse can attract a £30,000 fine per property under the Electrical Safety Standards 2020. Letting an EPC lapse invalidates any Section 21 you serve. Letting a gas safety certificate lapse can cost £6,000 per appliance under the HSE's Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.

This is exactly why GetCerted exists: we track every cert, fire reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days out, and book the engineer for you. See our plans or drop us your portfolio and we'll do it for you.