Sources
Where our figures come from
Every date and figure on Quarterday comes from the law itself, checked by hand against legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK. Here they all are, each with its source and when we last checked it.
Last checked 24 September 2026.
The landlord register dates
Every home in England goes on the new landlord register (the Private Rented Sector Database) within its region’s window. The regions, and the councils in each, are set out in the law.
| Region | Opens | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | 15 December 2026 | 14 March 2027 |
| East of England | 15 January 2027 | 14 April 2027 |
| East Midlands | 15 February 2027 | 14 May 2027 |
| South East | 15 March 2027 | 14 June 2027 |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | 15 April 2027 | 14 July 2027 |
| North West | 15 May 2027 | 14 August 2027 |
| North East | 15 June 2027 | 14 September 2027 |
| London | 15 July 2027 | 14 October 2027 |
| South West | 15 August 2027 | 14 November 2027 |
Regions and councils: Schedule 1, Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026, councils as they existed on 15 December 2026. Dates: GOV.UK. Checked 22 September 2026.
Figures often quoted wrongly
The law changed a lot in 2025 and 2026, and many websites haven’t caught up. These are the ones we see most.
The fine for letting without an in-date electrical safety report: not £30,000, but up to £40,000 for each breach.
The maximum went up on 1 May 2026. Some official pages still show the old figure because they’re updated late.
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, reg 11. Read it. Checked 24 September 2026.
The fine for not having an energy certificate: not up to £5,000, but a £200 fixed penalty.
The £5,000 figure is the cap on penalties for letting a home rated below E, which is a different rule.
Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, regs 6, 9 and 38(1)(a). Read it. Checked 24 September 2026.
The fine for missing the yearly gas safety check: not £20,000 or £5,000, but no upper limit, and up to two years in prison.
The fine has had no cap since March 2015.
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regs 36 and 36A; Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 s.33. Read it. Checked 24 September 2026.
The most you must spend on energy improvements before you can register an exemption: not £10,000 or £15,000, but £3,500 including VAT.
£10,000 has been announced for the planned 2030 rules, which aren’t law yet.
Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, regs 23, 24(4), 25 and 40. Read it. Checked 24 September 2026.
When landlords register: not everyone from 15 December 2026, but one region at a time, each with its own three-month window.
15 December 2026 is when the first region, the West Midlands, opens. The last deadline is 14 November 2027.
Schedule 1, Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026. Checked 22 September 2026.
Every rule we track
These are all the duties Quarterday checks for each home. Rules that have been announced but aren’t law yet are marked, and we never treat them as something you’ve broken.
The landlord register
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Registering yourself on the landlord register Draft, going through Parliament | No separate fine; you need it before you can register a home. Free. | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 s.82; Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (draft) Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Registering this property on the landlord register Draft, going through Parliament | Up to £7,000; a court can’t give you the home back, except for antisocial behaviour or crime | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 s.82 (the duty), s.90 (the courts) and s.91 (fines); Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (draft) Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Renewing your registration Draft, going through Parliament | Up to £7,000 | Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (draft), reg 10; Renters’ Rights Act 2025 s.82 and s.91 Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Updating the register after a change Draft, going through Parliament | Up to £7,000 | Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 (draft), regs 8 and 9; Renters’ Rights Act 2025 s.78, s.82(3)(b) and s.91 Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Giving false information to the register Draft, going through Parliament | Up to £40,000 | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 s.92 (offences) and s.91 (fines) Checked 24 September 2026 |
Safety
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Your gas safety check | Unlimited fine, up to 2 years in prison | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regs 36 and 36A; Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 s.33 Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Your electrical safety check | Up to £40,000; more than one fine is possible | Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, reg 11 Checked 24 September 2026 |
| Smoke alarms on every floor | Up to £5,000 each time | Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (as amended 2022) Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | Up to £5,000 each time | Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (as amended 2022) Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Fire-safe furniture | Unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison | Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Your water system risk assessment | No set fine; it’s part of your general duty to keep tenants safe | Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 Checked 22 September 2026 |
Energy
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Your energy performance certificate | A £200 fine for each home | Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, regs 6, 9 and 38(1)(a) Checked 24 September 2026 |
| The minimum energy standard (band E) | Up to £2,000 if it’s under 3 months, up to £4,000 from 3 months; £5,000 at most per home. You needn’t spend more than £3,500 including VAT (counting what you’ve spent since October 2017) before you can register an exemption | Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, regs 23, 24(4), 25 and 40 Checked 24 September 2026 |
| The 2030 energy standard (band C) Not yet law for private landlords | Planned, not law yet; you’d need to spend up to £10,000 on improvements (the consultation had proposed £15,000) | Warm Homes Plan, 21 January 2026 — regulations targeted 2027 Checked 22 September 2026 |
Deposits and tenancies
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Protecting the deposit | 1 to 3 times the deposit; blocks a possession order until cured | Housing Act 2004 ss.213–215 as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Giving the tenant the deposit paperwork | 1 to 3 times the deposit; blocks a possession order until cured | Housing Act 2004 ss.213–215 as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, s.213(5)–(6) Checked 22 September 2026 |
| The right to rent check | £10,000 for each person living there; £20,000 if it happens again | Immigration Act 2014 Part 3 Chapter 1; Code of practice reissued 1 October 2026 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| The right to rent check for a lodger | £5,000; £10,000 if it happens again | Immigration Act 2014 Part 3 Chapter 1; Code of practice reissued 1 October 2026 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| The tenant information sheet | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £4,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| The written statement of terms | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £4,000) | Housing Act 1988 ss.16D and 16I, inserted by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, s.16D(4) Checked 22 September 2026 |
Licences
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| A council licence for this property | Up to £40,000 (councils start at £12,000) and your tenants can claim back up to 24 months’ rent | Housing Act 2004 Part 3; s.249A as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| A shared house licence | Up to £40,000 (councils start at £17,000); your tenants can claim back rent | Housing Act 2004 Part 2; s.249A as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
Letting and rent
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Not inviting rent offers above the advertised rent | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £4,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Stating the rent in every advert | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £3,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Not refusing tenants on benefits or with children | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £6,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Not offering a fixed term | Up to £7,000 (councils start at £4,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Not taking more than a month’s rent up front | £5,000; up to £30,000 if it happens again | Tenant Fees Act 2019 as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Not misusing a possession ground | Up to £40,000 (councils start at £30,000) | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Not re-letting within 12 months of using Ground 1 or 1A | Up to £40,000 (councils start at £25,000); your tenants can claim back rent | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Joining the landlord ombudsman Not yet law for private landlords | Announced — expected 2028 | Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Part 2 Chapter 2 Checked 22 September 2026 |
Repairs
| What | If it’s not done | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Making an emergency hazard safe Not yet law for private landlords | Social landlords only as at 22 Sep 2026. Timescale: 24 hours: investigate and make safe | Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 5 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Investigating a significant hazard Not yet law for private landlords | Social landlords only as at 22 Sep 2026. Timescale: 10 working days | Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 6 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Sending the written summary Not yet law for private landlords | Social landlords only as at 22 Sep 2026. Timescale: 3 working days after the investigation | Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 9 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Carrying out safety work Not yet law for private landlords | Social landlords only as at 22 Sep 2026. Timescale: 5 working days after the investigation | Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 11 Checked 22 September 2026 |
| Carrying out preventative work Not yet law for private landlords | Social landlords only as at 22 Sep 2026. Timescale: begin within 5 working days, otherwise complete within 12 weeks | Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, reg 13 Checked 22 September 2026 |
The data we use
- Postcode to council: the ONS Postcode Directory. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
- Addresses: a licensed address provider. Contains OS data and Royal Mail data © Crown and Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026.
- Energy certificates: the government’s EPC register, under the Open Government Licence.
Spotted something out of date?
Please tell us at hello@getquarterday.co.uk. We check each rule again on a schedule, and straight away when the law changes.
Quarterday isn’t legal advice. We tell you which rules apply and when, and link to the law for each.