Complete Checklist: EPC + Gas Certificate + EICR + How to Rent Guide (England) + Written Agreement + Deposit Protection + PI (30 Days) + Right to Rent Checks + Smoke/CO Alarms + s.48 Notice — Scotland: Landlord Registration + PRT Agreement + Easy Read Notes + Deposit (30 Working Days) — Wales: Written Occupation Contract + RHWA 2016 Written Statement (14 Days) — RRA 2025 Changes from 1 May 2026

Landlord New Tenancy Checklist UK 2026 — All Documents Required at Tenancy Start in England, Wales, Scotland and NI

New tenancy checklist 2026: all documents required at start of tenancy. England: EPC (before signing; min EPC E); gas safety certificate (before move-in); EICR (before move-in); How to Rent guide (current edition); written tenancy agreement (mandatory RRA 2025); deposit protection in approved scheme + Prescribed Information within 30 days; right to rent checks (England only; before tenancy); smoke alarm each storey; CO alarm each room with fixed combustion appliance; s.48 LTA 1987 notice. Scotland: landlord registration; PRT written agreement; Easy Read Notes; deposit within 30 working days; min EPC D; interlinked alarms. Wales: written occupation contract; RHWA 2016 written statement within 14 days; Rent Smart Wales. NI: written agreement; EPC; NI Landlord Registration.

12 min readUpdated 7 June 2026Last reviewed: 17 May 2026compliancetenancy-startchecklistdeposit

England — EPC, Gas Certificate, EICR

EPC: provide before signing; valid 10 years; min EPC E or valid exemption. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12): provide before move-in; annual; Gas Safe registered engineer. EICR: provide before move-in; 5-yearly; remedial works within 28 days. All three must be in date at tenancy start.

England — How to Rent guide, written agreement, deposit protection and right to rent

How to Rent guide: current edition from gov.uk; provide at tenancy start. Written agreement: mandatory under RRA 2025 from 1 May 2026. Deposit: protect in DPS/TDS/mydeposits within 30 days; serve Prescribed Information within 30 days. Right to rent: check documents for all adult occupants before tenancy starts; retain copies; England only. Smoke alarm each storey; CO alarm each room with fixed combustion appliance; s.48 notice (landlord address for service).

Scotland, Wales and NI

Scotland: landlord registration (register.landlord.gov.scot); PRT written agreement + Easy Read Notes; deposit within 30 working days; min EPC D; interlinked smoke/heat/CO alarms. Wales: written occupation contract; RHWA 2016 written statement within 14 days of occupation; Rent Smart Wales registration/licence. NI: written terms; EPC; NI Landlord Registration (landlordregistrationni.gov.uk).

Templates recommended in this guide

ComplianceLS-E-020

Landlord Annual Compliance Checklist

Annual walk-through of every compliance touchpoint: gas, electrical, EPC, smoke/CO, Right-to-Rent, deposit, licensing, database registration.

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