Sector guide
6 obligations that are typically legally required, 7 in all — with the legislation, renewal frequency and penalties behind each.
Landlord compliance is unforgiving because every duty is per property, per tenancy: the annual CP12, the five-year EICR, EPC minimum standards, smoke and CO alarms — miss one date on one property and the penalties (and the invalidated Section 21) are yours.
This guide lists the obligations that typically apply to a residential landlord in England & Wales, with the legislation, renewal frequency and penalties for each.
The duties that generally apply to premises like yours under UK law, with what enforcement can look like.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; HSW Act 1974
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England & Wales) Regulations 2015; Energy Performance of Buildings (E&W) Regulations 2012
MEES breaches: LA civil penalties up to GBP 2,000 (<3 months) / GBP 4,000 (3+ months), capped at GBP 5,000 per breach combination, plus publication; failing to provide an EPC for a dwelling: GBP 200 penalty charge.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Enforced under the RRFSO 2005.
HSW Act 1974; COSHH 2002; ACoP L8
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974 and COSHH 2002: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (reg.4, as amended 2022)
Local-authority remediation notice (28 days), then a civil penalty of up to GBP 5,000 per breach.
Housing Act 2004 (ss.212-215B), as amended by the Localism Act 2011, Deregulation Act 2015 and Renters’ Rights Act 2025
The county court MUST order the landlord to pay the tenant 1-3x the deposit per breach (s.214); and since 1 May 2026 an unprotected deposit blocks a possession order on ALL grounds except antisocial-behaviour grounds 7A/14 (new s.215, Renters’ Rights Act 2025).
Extra duties that switch on with a feature of the building or how you operate.
Gas appliances or a gas boiler
A passenger or goods lift
Pressure systems (boilers, compressors)
A commercial kitchen or food preparation
Hazardous substances (COSHH)
Work at height (ladders, roofs)
Workplace vehicles or forklifts
Fume or dust extraction (LEV)
A swimming or spa pool
A building constructed before 2000
The full landlords & agents list as a one-page PDF — every obligation, frequency and legislation reference. Free, straight to your inbox.
Keeval maps these obligations to your actual premises, watches every renewal date, and keeps your certificates inspection-ready — free, for all your sites, no card. Already keep a spreadsheet? Upload it and we set your sites up for you.
Get started freeMore sector guides
This guide highlights the obligations, frequencies and penalties that typically apply to premises like yours in England & Wales — general information to help you act on your duties, not legal advice and not a definitive statement of your position. You remain the duty-holder; take your own professional advice where you need certainty. Keeval is a trading name of Brenkon Holdings Limited (no. 16987530).