Guides · Resources
The landlord & tenant resource hub
Official sources only: gov.uk and statutory bodies. Links verified August 2026.
Everything the law asks of a landlord, and everything a tenant is entitled to, with a direct link to the official source. No paywalls, no affiliate links, no summaries that drift out of date: just the door to the real thing, plus a note on where Cheerfulrent does the work for you.
England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Documents you must serve
Get these wrong and a possession claim can fail. Serve them at the start of every tenancy and keep proof.
- Written information for your tenantLandlords
Since 1 May 2026, a new tenant must get the key terms of the tenancy in writing before signing; it can be part of the agreement. The government withdrew the How to Rent guide the same day.
✓ Record the date your tenant received it in your property's compliance card.
For tenancies that began before 1 May 2026 with a written agreement, every named tenant needed this sheet by 31 May 2026. If yours was missed, send it now.
Every private assured tenancy in England is now rolling, and an agreement cannot have an end date. The government's old model assured shorthold agreement has been withdrawn.
30 days to protect the deposit and serve the prescribed information. Penalties run to 3× the deposit. Choose DPS, TDS or mydeposits below.
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS)Landlords
Free custodial scheme: the DPS holds the deposit; nothing to insure.
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)Landlords
Custodial (free) or insured options; strong dispute-resolution service.
- mydepositsLandlords
Custodial and insured schemes, popular with smaller landlords.
Safety & compliance
The certificates the law requires and where to get them.
Gas, electrical, fire, smoke and CO alarms, energy efficiency: the official summary of what's on you.
✓ Your property's compliance card tracks gas (annual), EICR (5-year), EPC (10-year) and deposit deadlines automatically.
- Find a Gas Safe registered engineerLandlords
Only a Gas Safe engineer can issue the annual CP12. Search by postcode.
Look up any property's EPC by postcode. Minimum band E to let (F/G needs improvement or a registered exemption).
Three or more unrelated tenants sharing facilities usually means a licence. Check before you advertise.
Right to Rent
You must check every adult occupier's right to rent before the tenancy starts, and keep evidence.
- Tenants: get your share codeTenants
Non-British/Irish citizens prove their right to rent with a free share code (valid 90 days). British and Irish citizens use their passport instead.
✓ Greenlight asks for exactly this: one field on your dashboard.
- Landlords: check a share codeLandlords
Enter the tenant's share code and date of birth; gov.uk confirms their status instantly. Free.
✓ Greenlight lays out the code and DOB for you and records the result on the report.
- Which documents countLandlords
The official list of acceptable documents for manual checks, and how long to keep copies.
The law, in plain English
Rights and responsibilities on both sides, from the horse's mouth.
In force since 1 May 2026: the end of Section 21, rolling periodic tenancies, rent-increase rules, pet requests and more. The official overview for landlords.
✓ Our Renters' Rights Act guide has the short version, including what is still to come.
The gov.uk overview for tenants: what your landlord must do, what you must do.
The statutory split between landlord and tenant repair duties, and what to do if repairs aren't done.
✓ Report a repair from your dashboard with photo or video; your landlord picks a vetted tradesperson.
- Rent increasesBoth
How and how often rent can rise, the Section 13 notice, and challenging above-market increases at tribunal.
The lawful process for ending a tenancy: notice periods, grounds and what's illegal.
Independent advice
Free, expert, and on nobody's payroll.
The UK's leading housing charity. Deposits, repairs, eviction, harassment. Comprehensive and current.
Practical, step-by-step help, including template letters and local drop-ins.
The largest landlord body: training, document templates, and a helpline for members.
Where Cheerfulrent fits
We don't replace the official sources: we make sure you never miss them. Add a property and the compliance card starts tracking every deadline above; invite a tenant and Greenlight walks them through right-to-rent; sign online and the signed PDF lives in both your Documents. £40/month, no commission.
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