If you let residential property in England, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has changed the documentation you need. Some documents have been required for years. Others are brand new. Miss any of them and you face fines of up to £7,000 for a first offence and £40,000 for a repeat breach — plus you may not be able to serve a valid possession notice when you need one.
This article lists every document a private landlord in England needs as of 2026, explains why each one matters, and tells you what happens if you don’t have it.
Before the Tenancy Starts
Every tenancy needs a written agreement. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, all new tenancies are periodic — there are no more fixed terms. Your agreement must reflect this. If you’re still using a pre-2026 template that references Section 21 or fixed terms, it’s out of date. If you don’t have a written agreement, you must provide a Written Statement of Terms — failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £7,000.
You must verify that every adult tenant has the right to rent in England before the tenancy starts. This means checking original identity documents. Keep a copy and a record of when you checked. Failure to check carries a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per tenant.
Before handing over the keys, you must provide the How to Rent guide, the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, the Energy Performance Certificate, and the gas safety certificate. If you don’t provide the Information Sheet, you cannot serve a valid possession notice.
If you take a deposit, you must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and serve the prescribed information. Failure to protect means you cannot serve a Section 8 notice, and the tenant can claim 1–3 times the deposit.
Safety Certificates
Gas safety certificate: annual check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, copy to tenant within 28 days. Electrical Installation Condition Report: every 5 years, must show satisfactory. EPC: minimum rating E. Smoke alarm on every floor, carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a combustion appliance.
During the Tenancy
Inventory and check-in report — not legally required but without one you will lose any deposit dispute. Section 13 rent increase notice — the only legal way to increase rent. Contractual rent review clauses are void. Minimum two months’ notice, once per 12 months. Compliance calendar tracking all certificate expiry dates.
Ending the Tenancy
Section 8 possession notice using permitted grounds, check-out report, deposit return or deductions letter with evidence for every deduction, and forwarding address form. In total, a compliant landlord needs approximately 15–20 individual documents across the full tenancy lifecycle.
➤ Browse our complete landlord document range — all updated for the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
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