Landlord compliance pack — What to include

A compliance pack is the collection of documents an England landlord must provide to tenants at the start of a tenancy — and the evidence that they were provided. Having a complete, well-organised compliance pack protects you if a dispute arises, is required before you can serve a Section 21 notice, and demonstrates professional landlord practice. Reviewed March 2026.

What the rule is

There is no single law that requires a “compliance pack” as such. However, the individual documents within it are each legally required to be provided. A compliance pack is the practical way to ensure all required documents are assembled, served to tenants, and evidenced in one place.

When it applies

• At the start of every Assured Shorthold Tenancy in England
• At renewal, check whether any documents need updating
• If a document expires during a tenancy (e.g. gas safety record), the new one should be provided and recorded

What landlords must do

Every compliance pack for an England AST should contain:

1. Gas Safety Record (CP12) — if the property has gas. Served before move-in.
2. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — full report, not just summary page.
3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — valid (not expired), at least E rating.
4. How to Rent Guide — most current version from gov.uk at time of tenancy.
5. Tenancy deposit prescribed information and protection certificate — within 30 days.
6. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm test record — tested on first day of tenancy.
7. Right to Rent check records — copies of ID documents, dates, method.
8. Legionella risk assessment — where applicable.
9. Tenancy agreement — signed copy for each tenant.

What evidence to keep

• A complete copy of every document listed above
• Evidence of service for each document (dates, methods, confirmation)
• The pack generation date and version
• Any updates to documents during the tenancy (e.g. renewed gas safety record)
• Tenant acknowledgement where possible (signed checklist at move-in)

Common mistakes

• Including certificates but no service evidence — the pack must show the documents were actually given to the tenant, not just that you have them
• Using expired documents — check expiry dates before compiling the pack; an expired EPC or CP12 means you’re not compliant
• Forgetting joint tenants — all named tenants must receive copies; serve each one individually or together with a note of all recipients
• Leaving deposit prescribed information until later — it must be served within 30 days of receiving the deposit, not just at the tenancy start
• No version control on the How to Rent Guide — note which version you served

FAQ

Is a compliance pack a legal requirement? No single document called a “compliance pack” is required by law. However, the individual documents within it are each legally required to be provided. Bundling them as a pack is best practice.

When should the pack be provided? Most documents must be provided before or at the start of the tenancy. The gas safety record must be given before move-in. The deposit prescribed information within 30 days of receiving the deposit.

Can I generate a compliance pack for an existing tenancy? Yes. If you’re partway through a tenancy, organise and store all compliance documents. Check you’ve served any outstanding documents correctly.

What if a document has expired? Renew it as soon as possible. An expired gas safety record or EICR means you are not currently compliant. TenancyVault tracks expiry dates and sends reminders.

How does TenancyVault help? TenancyVault stores all your documents, tracks expiry dates, and generates a compliance pack with one click — including a cover sheet and service record.