Gas Safety
All gas appliances and flues in a rented property must be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You must provide tenants with a copy of the Gas Safety Record (also called a CP12 certificate) before they move in and within 28 days of each annual check. You must also keep records for at least 2 years.
Electrical Safety
Since 2020, landlords must have the electrical installation in their properties inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years. The resulting Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be provided to tenants. Any remedial work identified as urgent must be completed within 28 days.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
You must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property. Since April 2018, rental properties in England must have an EPC rating of E or above. You must provide tenants with a copy of the EPC before they move in. There are proposals to increase the minimum rating to C in coming years.
Deposit Protection
Any deposit taken from a tenant must be protected in a government-approved scheme (MyDeposits, Deposit Protection Service, or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days of receipt. You must provide prescribed information about the scheme to the tenant within the same period. Failure to comply can result in compensation claims of 1-3x the deposit.
Repairs and Maintenance
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords are responsible for maintaining the structure and exterior of the property, keeping installations for gas, water, electricity, and heating in proper working order, and ensuring the property is fit for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
Right to Rent Checks
Landlords in England must carry out Right to Rent checks on all adult occupants before a tenancy begins. You must check original identity documents and make copies. Failure to carry out correct checks can result in a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per tenant (or unlimited in criminal cases).