What are a landlord's legal responsibilities in the UK?
Gas, electrics, EPC, alarms, deposits, Right to Rent — the duties that never go away. Here's the full landlord compliance checklist.
Core landlord duties include an annual Gas Safety Check, an EICR at least every five years, a valid EPC, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection within 30 days, and Right to Rent checks where relevant. Since 1 May 2026, landlords must also give tenants written information about the Renters' Rights Act changes and use Section 8 for possession.
Your landlord compliance checklist
- Annual Gas Safety Check by a Gas Safe registered engineer (where gas appliances are present).
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at least every five years.
- A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
- A working smoke alarm on every floor; a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance.
- Deposit protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt.
- Right to Rent checks where relevant.
- Since 1 May 2026: correct written information about the Renters' Rights Act changes, and Section 8 (not Section 21) for possession.
What happens if you don't comply
Non-compliance carries real consequences — fines, invalidated possession notices, and in some cases rent repayment orders. A missing gas safety certificate or EICR, or a deposit that wasn't protected in time, can undermine a landlord's position well beyond the immediate breach. The point of the checklist is that these aren't one-offs; several duties recur on a fixed cycle.
Note: tighter proposed EPC minimum-standard rules are still going through consultation and are not yet law. Treat any future EPC requirement as proposed rather than confirmed until it's enacted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is a gas safety certificate needed?
Annually, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer where gas appliances are present.
How often does an EICR need to be done?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is required at least every five years.
Are the new EPC minimum standards law yet?
No. Proposed tighter EPC minimum-standard rules are still in consultation and not yet law.
Hull landlords who'd rather have compliance, licensing and management handled for them — or tenants with a question about a notice they've received — can talk to the team at Property Central.