Understandably, there’s a buttload of confusion among landlords – especially new landlords – when it comes to Buy-to-let compliance, most notably which health & safety certificates are required by law.
So I’m going to try and make it easy for you.
Below is a list of legally required health & safety certificates all landlords in England & Wales with an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) are responsible for obtaining before renting out a residential property.
Just to clarify:
- I’m only listing the required health & safety certificates – so this is not an in-depth overview of all your legal obligations, including other bits of paperwork. You will almost certainly have other legally required obligations you will need to comply with (eg tenancy deposit legislation, issuing right-to-rent booklet… etc).
- This list only applies to single-let (not HMOs) rental properties in England & Wales.
We good? Cool.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)Since October 2008, private Residential Landlords in England & Wales have been required to show prospective tenants with an EPC (as in, before the tenant signs a tenancy agreement). An EPC report shows how energy efficient a property is with a rating between A to G (A being the most efficient, and G being the least efficient). An EPC is valid for 10 years, so there is no need to renew it for every new tenant. Read more about Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) |
England |
Wales |
From only£59Inc VAT More details |
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Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)Landlords in England & Wales are required to conduct an annual gas safety check by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Once an inspection is complete, a certificate will be issued Landlords should provide a copy of the certificate to their tenants within 28 days of the gas safety check. Read more about Gas Safety Certificates (CP12) |
England |
Wales |
From only£45Inc VAT More details |
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Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR)Since April 2021, all private rented properties in England have been required to conduct an electrical safety inspection. Once an inspection is complete, a report (Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)) will be issued. A copy of the report should be provided to tenants at the beginning of the tenancy. An electrical safety inspection should be conducted at least every 5 years. Read more about Electrical Safety Certificates (EICR) |
England |
Wales |
From only£159Inc VAT More details |
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Legionella Risk AssessmentLegionella must be managed appropriately in rental properties due to the danger it poses. Landlords should ensure that, at a minimum, a legionella risk assessment is completed for each property to identify any potential risks from legionella growth. It is recommended that a Legionella Risk Assessment is conducted every two years or before the start of a new tenancy. The assessment can be conducted by anyone as long as they have the relevant skills to implement the control measures and strategies, or one can be conducted by a professional assessor. While a “certificate” is not required per’se, landlords must have evidence to show that a risk assessment has taken place, and records showing what precautions were taken. Read more about Legionella Risk Assessments |
England |
Wales |
From only£119Inc VAT More details |
Yup, that’s it.
Needless to say, compliance is not only critical for the safety and comfort of your tenants, but also, failing to comply can lead to hefty penalties.
Disclaimer: I’m just a landlord blogger; I’m 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I’m a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
Any documents you download from this website are just examples of their kind and should be checked by a professional. I give no warranties or representations concerning the documents, and accept no liability in relation to the use of the documents.
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