Self-managing but unsure about compliance? A simple landlord checklist

Inspired Management and Lettings
2 days ago
3 min read

Many landlords manage their properties well day to day.Tenants are settled, rent is coming in, and issues are dealt with as they arise.

Where uncertainty tends to creep in isn’t usually the practical side of letting — it’s compliance, deadlines, and paperwork.

With legislation continuing to evolve, it’s completely understandable for landlords to feel unsure whether everything is still up to date. This simple checklist is designed to help you sense-check the basics and highlight anything that may need attention.

A simple compliance checklist for landlords

1. Safety certificates are current

At a minimum, landlords should have:

A valid Gas Safety Certificate (renewed annually, if applicable)
An Electrical Safety Report (EICR) (renewed every five years)
An up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

If any of these are out of date — or you’re unsure when they were last renewed — that’s a sensible place to start.

2. Deposit protection has been handled correctly

If you’ve taken a deposit, it should be:

Protected in a recognised deposit protection scheme
Registered within the required timeframe
Supported by the correct Prescribed Information, served to the tenant

Deposit paperwork is one of the most common areas where things are missed, particularly on longer-running tenancies.

3. Right to Rent checks were completed

Landlords are responsible for ensuring Right to Rent checks are carried out correctly before a tenancy begins.

If a tenancy started some time ago, it’s worth checking:

That checks were completed
That records are still held securely

4. The latest How to Rent guide was served

Tenants must be provided with the current How to Rent guide at the start of the tenancy.

Because the guide is updated periodically, older versions don’t always count — something that can easily be overlooked.

5. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in place

Landlords should ensure:

Smoke alarms are fitted on each floor of the property
Carbon monoxide alarms are installed where required
Alarms are tested and recorded at the start of the tenancy

6. Rent reviews have been handled correctly

If rent has been increased:

Was the correct notice used?
Was sufficient notice given?
Does the rent still reflect the local market?

If rent hasn’t been reviewed for a long time, that’s also worth noting — even if no immediate change is planned.

7. Records are organised and accessible

In the event of a query or dispute, having clear records makes all the difference.

This includes:

Certificates
Tenancy agreements
Notices served
Correspondence with tenants

Disorganised paperwork doesn’t mean a landlord has done anything wrong — it just makes things more stressful if something is queried later on.

A note on rent protection insurance

Some landlords choose to take out rent protection insurance as an added layer of reassurance.

It’s worth being aware that, for this type of cover to apply, insurers usually require that the tenant was fully reference-checked and approved before they moved into the property. If referencing wasn’t completed properly at the start of the tenancy, cover is unlikely to apply later on.

This doesn’t mean rent protection insurance is right for everyone — but it does underline the importance of having the right checks and paperwork in place from day one, even if insurance isn’t something you’re considering right now.

If something doesn’t quite add up

This checklist isn’t about catching landlords out. It’s about quiet reassurance.

Many landlords who self-manage do so successfully — they just want confidence that nothing important has slipped through the cracks.

It’s often the things that happen at the very start of a tenancy that make the biggest difference later on.

If you’re unsure about any part of your compliance, or you’d simply like a second set of eyes on things, we’re always happy to talk it through.

You stay in control — we help make sure nothing gets missed.