What Regulations Must Landlords Comply With in 2025 and Beyond?

For landlords in England, staying compliant with legal obligations has never been more complex. From energy ratings to tax returns, smoke alarms to fire doors — the list of responsibilities keeps growing.

As we move through 2025 and beyond, non-compliance isn’t just risky — it’s expensive, with penalties ranging from fines to being banned from letting entirely.

Here’s a brief overview of the current and emerging regulations landlords must be aware of, and what you need to do to stay ahead.

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1. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

Applies to: All private rented properties in England
Renewal: Every 5 years
Law & Regulations: Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

You must:

• Have a valid EICR carried out by a suitably qualified electrician
• Provide a copy to tenants and the local authority if requested

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2. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)

Applies to: All properties with gas appliances such as cookers and boilers
Renewal: Annually
Law & Regulations: Gas Safety Regulations 1998

You must:

• Have gas appliances and flues checked by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months
• Provide a certificate to tenants within 28 days
  

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3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Current minimum: EPC rating E
Possible future minimum: C rating by 2028 (delayed but not cancelled)
Law & Regulations: Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure 10 (RdSAP10)

All rental properties must must:

• Have a valid EPC (renew every 10 years)
• Meet minimum energy efficiency standards unless exempt

EPC reform (15 June 2025) introduced more detailed assessment — possibly downgrading marginal ratings and increasing upgrade costs.

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4. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Applies to: All properties
Renewal: Alarms tested on day 1 of each new tenancy
Law & Regulations: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 

Smoke alarms:

• At least one on every floor of a rented property
  

Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms:

• Required in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (e.g. gas boiler)
  

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5. Fire Doors and Front Doors in Flats

Applies to: Flats in blocks, HMOs, and converted buildings
Law: & Regulations Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

Landlords must:

• Ensure flat entrance doors are fire-resistant and self-closing
• Carry out annual checks on front doors
• In high-rise buildings, perform quarterly fire door checks in communal areas

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6. Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

Applies to: All properties
Law & Regulations: Housing Act 2004, Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS)

• Used by councils to assess property hazards (damp, mould, heating, electrical safety).
• If hazards are present, councils can issue improvement notices or fines.
• The HHSRS is currently under review and may be updated in 2025, making it more detailed and widely enforced.

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7. Decent Homes Standard (Coming Soon)

Applies to: Social housing but soon to be extended to private rented homes under the Renters Reform Bill
Law & Regulations: Decent Homes Standard, Renters (Reform) Bill.

You must ensure the property is:

• Safe and free from major hazards
• In good repair
• Equipped with reasonably modern facilities
• Warm and energy efficient

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8. Tax Reporting and Digital Filing (Making Tax Digital)

Applies to: Landlords with rental income over £50,000 (from April 2026)
New tax reporting and digital filing requirements will come into effect as part of HMRC’s wider Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme

You will be required to:

• Keep digital records of your rental income/expenses
• Submit quarterly updates to HMRC
• Use MTD-compatible software

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9. Landlord Licensing (Selective, Additional, and Mandatory HMO)

Applies to:

• Mandatory: All HMOs with 5+ people from 2+ households
• Additional: Smaller HMOs in some council areas
• Selective: Any rental in designated boroughs

Law: Housing Act 2004

You must:

• Check with the local authority
• Apply and renew as required
• Comply with property conditions, management rules, and safety checks

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10. Right to Rent Checks

Applies to: All tenancies in England
Law: Immigration Act 2014

Landlords must:

• Check if tenants have legal UK residency status before letting
• Keep records for 12 months after tenancy ends

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11. Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP)

Applies to: All assured shorthold tenancies that started after 6 April 2007
Law: Housing Act 2004

All deposits must be:

• Placed in a government-approved scheme within 30 days
• The tenant must be notified of the scheme used

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What’s Coming Next?

Landlords should prepare for:

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