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 No paywalls, no affiliate links, no summaries that drift out of date — just the door to the real thing, plus a note on where Cheerfulrent does the work for you.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 Section 8/21 route can fail. Serve them at the start of every tenancy and keep proof.
- How to Rent — the official checklistLandlords
The government guide every tenant must receive at tenancy start (and again if it changes at renewal). Download the current PDF here — an old version doesn't count.
✓ Record the served date in your property's compliance card — we chase it for you.
The government's model AST and guidance notes — the same agreement Cheerfulrent uses for e-signing. Free, current, and more defensible than a bespoke contract.
✓ Choose 'Use our tenancy agreement' when adding a property — prefilled and e-signed.
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.
What's changing: end of Section 21, periodic tenancies, rent-increase rules, the ombudsman and property database. Read the official explainer.
✓ Our landlord guide has the one-minute version and how Cheerfulrent keeps you compliant as it lands.
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.
Spotted a broken or outdated link? Tell us and we'll fix it within a day.