Landlord Compliance Checklist 2026: What Do You Need Before Renting Out a Property?

Becoming a landlord involves much more than finding a tenant and collecting the rent.

Before a property can be let, landlords need to make sure it meets a number of legal, safety and administrative requirements. The rules have also changed significantly following the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act, with the main tenancy reforms coming into force on 1 May 2026.

For landlords in Bishop's Stortford, Stansted, Sawbridgeworth, Takeley, Great Dunmow and the surrounding villages, getting the compliance side right from the beginning can save a considerable amount of stress later on.

Below is a practical checklist of the main things landlords should be thinking about before a tenant moves in.

Make Sure You Have Permission to Let the Property

Before marketing your property, make sure you actually have permission to let it.

If the property is mortgaged, your lender may require consent to let or a specific buy to let mortgage.

If the property is leasehold, the lease may also contain restrictions on subletting or require consent from the freeholder or managing agent.

It is also worth checking that your insurance provider knows the property is going to be tenanted, as standard owner occupier insurance may not provide the cover you need once the property is rented out.

Make Sure the Property Is Safe and in Good Repair

Landlords are responsible for keeping rented property safe and free from serious hazards. That includes making sure gas and electrical installations are safe and that the property is suitable for occupation.

It is worth dealing with obvious maintenance issues before a tenant moves in rather than waiting for problems to be reported during the tenancy.

Small issues can become much more expensive if they are ignored.

Gas Safety Certificate

If the property has gas, a valid Gas Safety Record is required.

Gas appliances and flues supplied by the landlord must be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer on an annual basis. A copy of the record must also be provided to the tenant.

This is something that should be diarised carefully because it is an ongoing requirement rather than a one off check.

Electrical Installation Condition Report

Landlords need to ensure that the electrical installation within the property is safe.

A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report, usually referred to as an EICR, should be in place and any remedial work identified as necessary should be dealt with within the appropriate timescale.

If you provide electrical appliances as part of the tenancy, these should also be safe and properly maintained.

Energy Performance Certificate

A valid Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, should be available for the property.

The EPC shows the property's energy efficiency rating and must be provided as part of the letting process.

Landlords also need to make sure the property meets the minimum energy efficiency requirements that apply at the time of letting.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The property must have the alarms required by law.

That includes smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in the locations required by the regulations. Landlords should also make sure they are working at the beginning of the tenancy.

This is a relatively simple part of compliance, but it is also one that should never be overlooked.

Furniture and Furnishings

If you are letting a furnished or part furnished property, any relevant furniture and furnishings supplied by you must comply with the appropriate fire safety requirements.

This includes items such as sofas, upholstered chairs, mattresses and other covered furniture.

If you are unsure about an older item, it is often safer to replace it rather than risk supplying something that does not comply.

Right to Rent Checks

Landlords in England must make sure that prospective tenants have the legal right to rent.

This involves checking the appropriate documentation or completing the relevant online process before the tenancy begins.

Where a tenant has a time limited Right to Rent, follow up checks may also be required during the tenancy. Right to Rent remains one of the core responsibilities when renting property in England.

Protect the Tenant's Deposit

If you take a tenancy deposit, it must be protected in a government approved tenancy deposit scheme.

There are also rules around the information that must be provided to the tenant and the timescales for doing so.

At Willmott & Lake, deposits for our managed properties are protected through the Deposit Protection Service.

We don't charge landlords a separate deposit registration fee.

Arrange a Proper Inventory

An inventory isn't simply a list of furniture.

A good inventory should provide a detailed record of the property's condition at the beginning of the tenancy, ideally supported by clear photographs.

This can be extremely important if there is a disagreement over damage or the deposit when the tenant leaves.

At Willmott & Lake, we use independent third party inventory clerks rather than producing the reports ourselves.

We believe this provides a more impartial record should a dispute ever arise.

The landlord simply pays the amount charged by the inventory provider. We don't add anything on top.

Understand the Renters' Rights Act Changes

This is one of the biggest changes landlords need to understand in 2026.

From 1 May 2026, the tenancy system in England changed significantly. Existing assured shorthold tenancies moved onto assured periodic tenancies, while new assured tenancies now operate on a rolling basis rather than having a fixed end date.

That means landlords can no longer simply create a new six month or twelve month assured tenancy with a fixed expiry date.

New tenancies also require certain key information to be provided to tenants in writing before the tenancy is agreed.

For landlords who had an existing written tenancy before 1 May 2026, the government also introduced specific information requirements as part of the transition to the new system.

These reforms are one of the reasons it has become increasingly important for landlords to keep their tenancy documentation and procedures up to date.

Property Licensing

Depending on the type and location of the property, you may also need a licence.

This is particularly relevant for Houses in Multiple Occupation, but some councils operate additional or selective licensing schemes covering other types of rented property.

Landlords should check whether any licensing scheme applies before letting the property.

Legionella Risk

Landlords are responsible for assessing and controlling the risk of legionella within rented properties.

For most standard residential properties, this does not necessarily mean paying for a complicated annual inspection, but the risk still needs to be considered and appropriately managed.

Simple measures such as keeping hot and cold water systems properly maintained can form part of this.

Keep Good Records

Good record keeping is one of the simplest ways to make managing a rental property easier.

Keep copies of your safety certificates, tenancy documentation, inspection reports, invoices, maintenance correspondence, deposit information and any communication relating to the tenancy.

If an issue arises months or years later, being able to demonstrate what happened and when can be extremely important.

Don't Forget Ongoing Compliance

A common mistake is assuming that once the tenant moves in, the compliance work is finished.

It isn't.

Gas Safety Certificates need renewing, inspections need arranging, maintenance needs dealing with and legislation continues to change.

Fully managed lettings isn't just about collecting the rent each month. A large part of the service is making sure these ongoing responsibilities are monitored and dealt with properly.

Fully Managed Lettings with Willmott & Lake

For landlords who don't want to manage all of this themselves, Willmott & Lake offers a Fully Managed service across Bishop's Stortford and the surrounding area.

Our service includes rent collection through PayProp, tenant communication, routine property inspections, maintenance coordination, compliance monitoring and ongoing management throughout the tenancy.

Our Fully Managed fee is 10% plus VAT.

We charge £0 setup fees, £0 deposit registration fees, and we don't mark up contractor invoices.

Where we arrange an inventory, safety certificate or contractor, the landlord simply pays the third party cost.

We currently manage properties across Bishop's Stortford, Stansted, Sawbridgeworth, Takeley, Great Dunmow and the surrounding villages.

If you're thinking about letting a property or would simply like advice on whether your property is ready to rent, contact Willmott & Lake on 01279 801165 for a no obligation conversation.