Household Bills
Landlord Responsibilities in England: Certificates, Safety and Deposits
Letting a home in England needs a Gas Safety Certificate every 12 months, a valid EPC rated E or above, an electrical report at least every five years, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a protected deposit and a Right to Rent check.
- Gas Safety every 12 months
- Electrical report every 5 years
- Deposit protected within 30 days
Landlord insurance quotes, and Gas Safety and EPC bookings from a partner.
Your let home
- Gas Safety Certificate
- Every 12 months
- EPC
- Valid for 10 years
- Electrical report
- Every five years
Example. Your own details appear once you add them.
What is due when (England)
Before the tenancy
In place first
A valid EPC, a Gas Safety Certificate, working alarms and a Right to Rent check.
Within 30 days
Protect the deposit
In a government-backed scheme, with the prescribed information to the tenant.
Every 12 months
Gas Safety check
By a Gas Safe registered engineer; a copy to tenants within 28 days.
Every five years
Electrical report
An EICR by a qualified person; a copy to tenants within 28 days.
Every 10 years
A new EPC
Before the old one expires, while the home is let.
The full guide
If you let a home in England, the law sets out what must be in place before a tenant moves in and how often it must be renewed. Most of it is certificates with dates, which is exactly what is easy to lose track of. This guide covers private lets in England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
What is due, and how often
| Duty | When |
|---|---|
| Gas Safety Certificate, by a Gas Safe registered engineer | Every 12 months; a copy to tenants within 28 days |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), rated E or above to let | Valid for 10 years; given to tenants before they move in |
| Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) | At least every five years; a copy to tenants within 28 days |
| Smoke alarm on every storey; carbon monoxide alarm where there is a fixed combustion appliance | In place from the start of each tenancy |
| Tenancy deposit protected in a government-backed scheme | Within 30 days of receiving it |
| Right to Rent check | Before the tenancy starts |
Insurance
A standard home insurance policy usually stops covering a home once it is let. Tell your insurer, and your mortgage lender, before the tenancy starts. Landlord insurance covers the building, your furnishings and your liability as a landlord.
Keep the documents
Keep each certificate, the deposit protection details and the tenancy agreement together, with the date each is next due. A missed renewal can affect your ability to regain possession of the home.
How Wisemium helps
Add each certificate to your Wise Vault and Wisemium keeps it with the home, with its date shown as needing attention before it is due. Wisemium does not issue certificates or give legal advice; registered engineers and assessors issue certificates, and GOV.UK sets out the rules.
Landlord insurance quotes from an FCA-authorised comparison service, and Gas Safety and EPC bookings from a partner.
Common questions
How often does a landlord need a gas safety certificate?
Every 12 months, from a Gas Safe registered engineer, with a copy to tenants within 28 days.
What EPC rating do I need to let a home?
In England and Wales, a home normally needs an EPC rating of E or above to be let.
How often is an electrical safety check needed?
In England, at least every five years, with a copy of the report to tenants within 28 days.
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