Working checklist · UK navigation, England detail
Use this as a file-review prompt, not a substitute for the current rules for your nation, council, licence, property and tenancy.
Important: the detailed tenancy references below focus on mainstream private residential letting in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different tenancy, registration and property-standard systems. Start with our rules by nation guide if the property is outside England.
1. Confirm the property and landlord setup
- Record the legal owner, correspondence address, lender and insurance position.
- Check whether the property or area requires HMO, selective or additional licensing.
- Review lease, freeholder, mortgage and planning restrictions before letting.
- Agree in writing what an agent will do, while remembering that outsourcing does not automatically remove the landlord’s legal responsibility.
2. Make the property safe and fit
- Inspect for damp, mould, excess cold, falls, fire, electrical and other housing hazards.
- Keep the structure, exterior, installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water in repair where the law requires.
- Arrange applicable gas and electrical checks and act on urgent or required remedial work.
- Install and test the smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms required for the nation and property.
- Assess furniture, fire doors, escape routes and HMO requirements where relevant.
Open the certificates and inspections guide.
3. Prepare energy and property documents
- Obtain a valid EPC where required and check the current minimum energy standard or a properly registered exemption.
- Keep the gas safety record, electrical report and evidence that copies were given on time.
- Prepare an accurate inventory and dated condition record.
- Keep appliance instructions, warranties, repair records and emergency contacts.
4. Set up the tenancy correctly
- Use a tenancy or occupation contract suitable for the nation and current law.
- In England, check the assured periodic tenancy rules in force from 1 May 2026 and provide the required written information.
- Carry out Right to Rent checks where required in England without unlawful discrimination.
- Take only permitted payments and describe rent, deposit and other charges clearly.
- Protect a tenancy deposit on time in an approved scheme and give the required information.
5. Manage the tenancy and evidence
- Give proper notice for non-emergency access and record appointments and refusals.
- Provide a clear repair-reporting route and triage hazards promptly.
- Keep factual records of inspections, tenant reports, contractor instructions, completion and follow-up.
- Follow the current process for rent changes, pets, complaints and possession; do not rely on an old form or template.
- Review compliance after a legal change, renewal date, incident, tenant change or significant work.
6. Tax and business records
- Record rent and allowable costs separately for each property or property business.
- Check Income Tax, company-tax, VAT, capital-gains and non-resident landlord issues relevant to the ownership structure.
- Check whether Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies and keep compatible digital records if it does.
- Keep invoices and evidence for the applicable statutory period and obtain tax advice for uncertain treatment.