Landlord Checklist: What You Need to Do Before Letting Your Property
4th October 2026- Blog
- Landlords
Letting out a property for the first time — or adding another one to your portfolio — comes with a long list of legal and practical boxes to tick. Miss one, and you could face fines, delays finding a tenant, or even prosecution.
Here's a straightforward checklist to work through before you put your property on the market.
1. Get Your Legal Certificates in Order
Before you can legally let your property, you'll need:
- Gas Safety Certificate – All gas appliances must be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and a copy given to your tenant.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) – Required at least every five years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – A valid EPC is required before marketing, with Band E as the current minimum standard (unless you hold an exemption). If your property's rating needs work, our guide to improving your EPC rating walks through practical ways to boost it.
2. Sort Fire and Safety Requirements
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted and tested in line with current fire safety rules before a tenant moves in. This is a simple step but one of the most overlooked.
3. Prepare for Right to Rent and Referencing
You're legally required to carry out Right to Rent checks on any adult who'll be living in the property. Beyond the legal minimum, thorough tenant referencing — credit checks, employer references, and a reference from any previous landlord — helps protect your investment from the outset.
4. Understand Deposit Protection
Any deposit you take must be protected in a government-approved scheme, and you must give your tenant the Prescribed Information within 30 days. It's also worth setting clear expectations early, since deposit disputes are a possible friction point at the end of a tenancy — our tenants' guide to getting a full deposit back is a useful one to share with new tenants too.
5. Get the Paperwork Right
Provide your tenant with:
- A written tenancy agreement
- A detailed inventory with photographs, so the property's condition is documented before move-in
6. Think About Property Management and Tax
Handling all of the above, alongside the day-to-day running of a let, can be a lot to manage, particularly if you have more than one property.
Many landlords choose to bring in a managing agent to handle compliance, referencing, and maintenance on their behalf; our article on the benefits of using a property management company explains what that support typically covers.
It's also worth getting ahead of upcoming tax changes — see our guide on Making Tax Digital: What Landlords Need to Know for what's changing and when.
Full Compliance Checklist
For the complete legal rundown, including anti-money laundering checks and HHSRS standards, see our Expert Guide: A Landlord Compliance Checklist.
Thinking of letting your property?
Our Lettings team can guide you through every step — from certification and referencing to ongoing management — across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and Worcester. Get in touch with your local branch to find out more.