Licence Checker England

Landlord guide

Landlord compliance checklist

This checklist gives private landlords a plain-English view of the core compliance areas that commonly apply to residential lets in England.

It is designed as a practical review tool rather than an exhaustive statement of the law, so council-specific licensing and property-specific obligations should still be verified separately.

At a glance

  • Licensing, safety certificates, and deposit protection should be checked early, not after a tenancy starts.
  • Some duties recur annually, while others depend on tenancy milestones or local schemes.
  • Council-specific licensing rules should be checked alongside national landlord obligations.
  • Use the postcode checker if you need to confirm whether local licensing applies to a property.

How to use this checklist

Work through each section as a baseline compliance review, then open the linked guides where you need more detail. Local licensing rules, property layout, and tenancy type can still change what applies in practice.

Licensing

Check if your property needs a licence

Use our postcode checker to find out if selective licensing, additional HMO licensing, or mandatory HMO licensing applies to your property.

At purchase, and when new schemes are introducedCheck now→

Apply for and maintain any required licence

If a licence is required, apply through your council. Licences typically last up to 5 years. Operating without one can lead to fines of up to £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders.

Every 5 years (or per scheme duration)

Gas safety

Annual gas safety check (CP12)

If the property has gas appliances, you must have a Gas Safe registered engineer carry out an annual safety check and provide the tenant with a copy of the certificate within 28 days.

Every 12 monthsGas safety guide→

Electrical safety

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

Private rented properties in England need a valid EICR. The report must be satisfactory, or any required remedial works must be completed within the required timeframe.

Every 5 yearsEICR guide→

Energy efficiency

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

You need a valid EPC before marketing or renting a property. The property must meet the minimum energy efficiency standard, currently Band E, unless a valid exemption applies.

Valid for 10 years; check minimum rating requirementsEPC guide→

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Smoke alarms on every floor

At least one smoke alarm is required on every storey used as living accommodation, and reported faults should be repaired or replaced promptly.

Check at the start of each tenancy; repair when faulty

Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fixed combustion appliances

Carbon monoxide alarms are required in rooms with fixed combustion appliances other than gas cookers, including rooms with boilers, wood-burning stoves, or open fires.

Check at the start of each tenancy; repair when faulty

Deposit protection

Protect the deposit in a government-backed scheme

If you take a tenancy deposit, you must protect it in a government-backed scheme within 30 days and serve the prescribed information on the tenant.

Within 30 days of receiving each deposit

Right to Rent

Check tenants' right to rent

Before granting a tenancy, verify that all adult occupants have the right to rent in England using acceptable documents or the Home Office online service.

Before each new tenancy; follow-up checks for time-limited permission

How to Rent / tenant information

Provide the 'How to Rent' guide

Give tenants the current version of the government's 'How to Rent' checklist at the start of a new tenancy. This matters for compliance and possession proceedings.

At the start of each new tenancy

Property standards

Ensure the property is fit for habitation

Rented properties must remain fit for habitation throughout the tenancy, including issues such as damp, ventilation, heating, water supply, drainage, and structural safety.

Ongoing obligation throughout the tenancy

Related next reads

Use these guides to move from the current topic into the next licensing or due diligence question.

Licensing fees and exemptions

What councils usually charge, where discounts can appear, and why fee summaries still need checking against live council wording.

Landlord licensing due diligence

A practical due diligence route for buyers, landlords, and investors checking licensing exposure before exchange, letting, or refinance.

EPC requirements for landlords

Minimum energy efficiency standards, when you need an EPC, the current minimum rating, and upcoming changes landlords should prepare for.

Next steps

Use the tools and supporting pages below to move from general guidance to a council-specific or property-specific starting point.

Check a postcode →

Start with a specific property and see which council area and local licensing data it matches.

Browse the council directory →

Compare council summaries if you already know the area you need to research.

Explore the licensing map →

Use the map as a discovery page when licensing varies by area or council.

HMO licensing guide→

Open the most closely related guide for the next part of the licensing or compliance picture.

Selective licensing guide→

Read the supporting guide if you need a wider compliance or licensing view.

Need more than a checklist?

Use the £29 review when one property still needs a clearer written answer, or use alerts if you want to stay aware of scheme changes alongside your wider compliance work.

Property Licensing Check

Live now

£29

A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.

Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.

Request the review

Alerts and monitoring

Coming soon

£12.99/month

A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.

Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.

See alerts and monitoring

Choose the level of help you need

Start free, then move into a clearer written review, deeper due diligence, or ongoing monitoring if your use case needs it. Every option remains an information service rather than legal advice.

Free checker

Live now

Free

Check a postcode, open the council page, and use the guides before paying for anything.

Best for: Useful when you want a practical first pass on one property or area.

Delivery: Instant result with council and guide links

  • Free postcode and council discovery
  • Guide and council-page linking
  • Official verification paths where available
Open the free checker

Property Licensing Check

Live now

£29

A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.

Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.

Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days

  • Human-reviewed summary
  • Likely licensing routes flagged
  • Official links included
Request the review

Alerts and monitoring

Coming soon

£12.99/month

A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.

Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.

Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts

  • Selected council or area monitoring
  • Scheme-change alerts
  • Saved watchlist concept ready for rollout
See alerts and monitoring

These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.

This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.