London Landlord Annual Compliance Checklist: Gas, Electrical, and Safety Obligations
London landlords face multiple overlapping compliance obligations that recur annually. This checklist covers every major certificate, inspection, and safety requirement a landlord must address each year to stay legally compliant.
Gas Safety: Annual CP12 Inspection
Every London landlord with a gas supply in a rented property must have a gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. The resulting Gas Safety Record (CP12) must be given to the existing tenant within 28 days and to any new tenant before they move in. The landlord must retain copies for at least two years. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. This applies to every gas appliance and flue provided by the landlord — boiler, gas hob, gas fire, communal water heaters.
The annual gas safety check should also include a boiler service, which is required to maintain the manufacturer warranty. A combined gas safety inspection and boiler service at a single visit is the most cost-effective approach. Schedule this appointment at the same time each year so it does not lapse.
Electrical Safety: Five-Yearly EICR
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require a periodic inspection and test of the electrical installation at least every five years. The EICR must be provided to the tenant within 28 days and to the local authority within seven days of a request. Any C1 or C2 defects identified on the EICR must be remediated within 28 days. This is not strictly an annual obligation, but landlords should track the EICR expiry date and schedule the renewal inspection before the five-year period expires, as an expired EICR without a renewal inspection puts the landlord in breach from day one of the sixth year.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require that a working smoke alarm is fitted on every storey of a rented property and that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, including gas boilers, gas fires, and solid fuel appliances. This obligation took effect from 1 October 2022. Landlords must check that alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy and respond to tenant reports of a faulty alarm within a reasonable time. Battery-operated alarms should be tested and batteries replaced annually.
Energy Performance Certificate
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be in place for any rented property in London. The EPC is valid for ten years, but landlords must also comply with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). Since 1 April 2020, it has been unlawful to let a property with an EPC rating below E, unless an exemption is registered. The government has proposed raising the minimum standard to C in future years. Landlords should track their EPC expiry date and commission a new EPC before letting, or when a major energy-related improvement such as a new boiler or insulation upgrade is made to the property.
Legionella Risk Assessment
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and Health and Safety Executive guidance L8 and HSG274 require landlords to carry out a risk assessment of the risk of Legionella bacteria in the water systems of their rental properties. This is a risk assessment obligation, not a certification requirement, but the assessment should be documented and reviewed annually or when the property layout or water system changes significantly. For London properties with complex water systems, communal tanks, or intermittent occupancy, a formal Legionella risk assessment by a specialist is advisable.
HMO Licence Renewal
For HMO landlords in London, the HMO licence must be renewed before it expires. Most London councils issue HMO licences with a five-year term, though some boroughs use shorter periods. The renewal application must be submitted before the current licence expires. Operating a licensable HMO without a valid licence is a criminal offence and can result in a rent repayment order, through which tenants can reclaim up to 12 months of rent paid during the unlicensed period.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
Every tenancy deposit taken for an assured shorthold tenancy in England must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt, and the prescribed information must be given to the tenant. This obligation recurs with each new tenancy. Non-compliance prevents a valid Section 21 notice and exposes the landlord to a penalty of one to three times the deposit amount. Landlords should check that all deposits are protected and that the prescribed information has been served correctly for every current tenancy.
Keeping Records
Prestige Engineers provide gas safety records, boiler service certificates, and EICR reports to London landlords on the day of inspection. We recommend maintaining a compliance calendar noting the renewal date for each certificate at each property. Contact us to coordinate annual compliance visits across your portfolio.