Every recurring duty and how often
| Duty | How often | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety check | Every 12 months | Copy to the tenant within 28 days; keep for 2 yearsRegulation 36, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, as amended 2018 |
| Electrical inspection (EICR) | Every 5 years | Copy to the tenant within 28 days; remedial work within 28 daysElectrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 |
| Energy performance certificate | Every 10 years | Rated E or better to let; new EPC before the next lettingEnergy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 |
| Deposit protection | Within 30 days of receiving the deposit | Prescribed information to the tenant in the same 30 daysSections 213 to 215, Housing Act 2004 |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | Working at the start of every tenancy | Repair or replace once the tenant reports a faultSmoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended 2022 |
| Legionella risk assessment | No fixed interval; review when anything changes | Keep a written assessment with the other recordsHSE Approved Code of Practice L8 |
At the start of every tenancy
These have no renewal date. They are done before the tenant moves in or on the day they do, and the record kept with the rest.
| Right to Rent check | Check every adult tenant's right to rent before the tenancy starts. If a tenant's right is time-limited, do a follow-up check before it expires or after 12 months, whichever is later.Immigration Act 2014 |
|---|---|
| Smoke alarm on every storey | A working smoke alarm on each storey with living accommodation, tested on the first day of the tenancy, and repaired or replaced once the tenant reports a fault.Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended 2022 |
| Carbon monoxide alarm | A working carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler or a wood burner, but not a gas cooker.Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended 2022 |
| Gas safety record to the tenant | A copy of the current gas safety record before the tenant moves in, where the property has gas.Regulation 36, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 |
| Electrical report to the tenant | A copy of the current electrical inspection report before the tenant moves in.Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 |
| Energy performance certificate to the tenant | A valid EPC, rated E or better unless an exemption is registered, given to the tenant.Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012; Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 |
| How to Rent guide | The current version of the government's How to Rent guide, given to the tenant at the start of the tenancy. Not giving it counts against the landlord in possession proceedings.Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 |
| Legionella risk assessment | Assess the risk from legionella in the water system and review it when anything changes. The Health and Safety Executive sets no fixed interval, but a written assessment kept with the other records is the usual practice.Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 |
Common questions
What safety checks does a landlord in England have to do?
A gas safety check every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, an electrical installation inspection at least every 5 years, working smoke alarms on every storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance at the start of each tenancy, and a legionella risk assessment. The property also needs an energy performance certificate rated E or better, and any deposit must be protected within 30 days.
What does a landlord have to give a new tenant?
Before or at the start of the tenancy: the current gas safety record, the current electrical inspection report, the energy performance certificate, the government's How to Rent guide, and, within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the prescribed information about where it is protected. Right to Rent checks must be done before the tenancy starts.
Which of these deadlines carry the biggest penalties?
Letting without an electrical inspection report can bring a council fine of up to £30,000. Letting a property rated F or G on its EPC can bring a fine of up to £5,000 per property. Missing the 30-day deposit deadline exposes the landlord to a court order of one to three times the deposit. An overdue gas safety check is a criminal offence enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.
Do these deadlines apply to letting agents too?
The duties sit with the landlord, but where a letting agent manages the property the agent normally takes on the diary as part of the service, and the gas and deposit rules refer to the landlord or their agent directly. Either way, the landlord is the one liable if a deadline is missed.
Is there a fixed interval for a legionella risk assessment?
No. The Health and Safety Executive requires the risk to be assessed and the assessment reviewed regularly and whenever something changes, such as a new tenant or work on the water system, but it sets no interval. Many landlords review it every two years and keep a written record.
Does this calendar cover Wales and Scotland?
The intervals for gas and electrical checks are the same in England, Wales and Scotland, and the 30-day deposit deadline applies in England and Wales, with Scotland using 30 working days. The alarm and EPC rules and the legal references on this page are for England. Wales and Scotland have equivalent duties under their own law.