The London landlord compliance checklist.
Every certificate a private landlord needs, how often each one is due, who carries the duty, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
Required annually for all rental properties with gas appliances. Must be carried out by a qualified engineer. Existing tenants must receive a copy within 28 days; new tenants before their tenancy begins. You must keep records for at least 2 years.
- Frequency: Every 12 months
- Fine for non-compliance: Unlimited fine and up to 2 years imprisonment
- Who carries it out: A qualified engineer
GMAS Group: CP12 from £60. Same-day certificates. Book here →
EPC, Energy Performance Certificate
All rental properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be let. An EPC is required before a property is marketed and must be made available to prospective tenants. An EPC lasts for 10 years.
- Frequency: Every 10 years (or after significant energy improvements)
- Fine for non-compliance: Up to £30,000
- Who carries it out: An accredited domestic energy assessor
Fire Safety
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2022 require landlords to install working smoke alarms on every floor and a CO alarm in any room with a solid fuel appliance. HMOs have additional fire alarm requirements under their licence conditions.
- Smoke alarms: Every floor of the property
- CO alarm: Any room with a solid fuel appliance
- HMOs: Interlinked, mains-wired fire detection system, annual testing required
GMAS Group: Fire alarm installation and annual testing from £95. Book here →
Electrical appliances you supply
There is no legal duty to test portable appliances in a residential let, but if you supply appliances with the tenancy you must make sure they are safe. Keep the paperwork for anything you buy, replace anything with damaged flex or a cracked casing, and record what you checked and when. For an HMO your licence conditions may go further, so read them.
Emergency Lighting
Required for all HMOs and commercial premises under BS 5266. Annual testing and certification required. Emergency lighting ensures escape routes remain illuminated in the event of a power failure.
Combining visits saves money
The most cost-effective approach for a portfolio landlord is to combine as many compliance visits as possible. EICR, CP12, EPC and the fire alarm test can all be done in a single visit for most properties, significantly reducing both cost and disruption to tenants.
GMAS Group offers PPM (Planned Preventative Maintenance) contracts for landlords with multiple properties, covering all compliance obligations on a single managed contract with one invoice. Learn more about PPM contracts →