Frequently asked questions

LetCompliance is an all-in-one platform for UK landlords and letting agents. From one login you advertise the property, reference and sign up tenants, collect the rent, keep every certificate compliant with a live 0–100 score, draft Section 8 and Section 13 notices and prepare your SA105 tax. It replaces a stack of separate tools — a portal, a referencing site, a spreadsheet and a reminder app.

It does far more. Compliance and reminders are the foundation, but the same account also runs lettings (adverts, applications, viewings, referencing, e-signed tenancies), rent and arrears with Direct Debit collection, landlord tax prep, and a done-for-you team for photography, inspections and contractors.

Often yes. If you self-manage any part of the let, or simply want your own independent evidence trail, LetCompliance keeps a compliance, rent and document record that does not disappear if you change agent. For agencies, it also runs multi-branch Client Money Protection reconciliation and monthly landlord statements.

Yes. Documents are encrypted (AES-256 at rest) with row-level security, we are UK GDPR-aware, and your downloads stay under your control. See our Privacy Policy for detail.

Yes — LetCompliance is free forever for a single property, with no card required. You keep a live 0–100 compliance score, certificate tracking with reminders and document storage. A second property needs a paid plan.

After a 14-day full trial: Solo £14.99/mo (up to 3 properties), Portfolio £19/mo (up to 10) and Professional £49/mo (unlimited), each cheaper billed yearly. Letting agencies have a single £129/mo plan with unlimited branches, seats and properties.

No. You can create an account and use the 14-day trial of everything without a card, then stay free forever on one property or pick a plan when you are ready.

A few minutes. Add a property, enter or upload your certificate dates (the AI can read the expiry straight off a PDF), and you get a compliance score immediately.

Yes. Plans scale by property count for landlords, and agencies get multi-branch workspaces with role-based access, Client Money Protection reconciliation and monthly landlord statements on the £129/mo Agency plan.

One rentable unit. A single flat or house is one property; a block of five flats is five. Rooms in one HMO under a single tenancy count as one property. Plans are sized by number of properties, not tenants.

Nothing is charged without your say-so. You either pick a paid plan or drop to the free-forever plan for a single property — you never lose access to your data.

Yes. Every paid plan is cheaper billed annually (for example the Agency plan is £129/mo or £1,290/yr). VAT, where it applies, is shown at checkout.

Yes. Create an advert with the material information tenants and portals expect, share a single property link so applicants apply with no account, then book viewings and run a waiting list — all in one place.

Yes. Reference a tenant or guarantor through a regulated UK credit reference agency — credit history, affordability and adverse data — pay-per-check, with the result stored against the tenancy. Right to Rent checks sit alongside it.

Yes. Generate the correct tenancy agreement and have it e-signed, with a tribunal-grade audit certificate recording who signed, when and from which device.

Yes — a free, passwordless tenant portal where they can see documents, requests and messages, with no account to create.

Referencing is pay-per-check through a regulated UK credit reference agency. You can absorb the cost or ask the tenant to pay — you choose per check.

You get a clear pass / refer / fail result with the reasons, so you can decline, ask for a guarantor, or request rent in advance. The decision stays yours.

Yes. Guarantors can be referenced with the same credit and affordability check, and the signed guarantee deed is stored against the tenancy.

LetCompliance gives you a shareable advert and application link and captures enquiries directly. It does not syndicate to Rightmove or Zoopla (those portals are agent-only), so some landlords pair it with an online listing service for portal exposure.

Yes. Set the rent and collect it by Direct Debit (Bacs), paid into your own account, while a live ledger tracks what is due and what has arrived.

The ledger flags a shortfall the day it happens and chases the tenant automatically with dated receipts. It also builds the Ground 8 arrears evidence trail in case a claim ever reaches court.

Yes — dated rent receipts for tenants, per-property and portfolio income views for you, and monthly landlord statements for agencies.

Straight into your own bank account via Stripe Connect — LetCompliance never holds your rent.

A failed payment is flagged on the ledger and treated as arrears immediately, so the automatic chase and the Ground 8 evidence trail kick in without you having to notice.

Yes. You can record manual payments (standing order, transfer, cash) on the ledger even if you do not use Direct Debit collection, so arrears tracking and receipts still work.

Yes. Log income and expenses (or let the AI read them off receipts), see per-property profit-and-loss, and export figures mapped straight onto the SA105 self-assessment pages, with a Section 24 calculator and MTD-dated quarterly summaries.

Not for the press-submit step. We ship the prep layer (Tax Pack and quarterly summary on the right HMRC dates) and you file through an HMRC-recognised tool or your accountant. Most landlords below the MTD threshold need only the prep.

Yes. Export the SA105-shaped Tax Pack (CSV + PDF) for your accountant, or sync to Xero.

From 6 April 2026 if your combined self-employment and property income is £50,000 or more, dropping to £30,000+ from April 2027 and £20,000+ from April 2028. Below that you stay on the normal annual Self Assessment.

Yes. You can split income and expenses by ownership share, so each owner’s SA105 figures come out correct.

Yes. Agencies get multi-branch workspaces with role-based access so each branch sees only its own clients, plus the full lettings, rent, compliance and legal toolkit.

Yes. The Agency plan includes Client Money Protection (CMP) reconciliation and automated monthly landlord statements, plus per-landlord audit packs for redress-scheme defence.

One flat £129/mo (or £1,290/yr) with unlimited branches, seats and managed properties. Enterprise (white-label, SSO, SLA) is available on request.

Every 12 months. A Gas Safe registered engineer must inspect all gas appliances and flues in the property annually. The record (CP12) must be given to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in.

Failing to carry out an annual gas safety check is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The penalty is an unlimited fine and up to 6 months imprisonment. A missing certificate also blocks a Section 8 possession claim.

Only a Gas Safe registered engineer. Always verify the engineer's registration number on the Gas Safe Register at gassaferegister.co.uk before booking.

No. If the property has no gas supply and no gas appliances, flues or pipework, a Gas Safety Certificate is not required. As soon as there is any gas, the annual check applies.

You must show you took all reasonable steps — written requests and a record of every attempt. Keep the paper trail; LetCompliance logs the reminders so you can evidence you tried.

Typically £60–£90 for a single boiler, more for extra appliances. Book 4–6 weeks ahead, especially over winter when engineers are busy.

Every 5 years for rental properties in England, or sooner if the report specifies. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 made EICRs mandatory for new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all tenancies from 1 April 2022.

The local housing authority can issue a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per property for failing to comply with the EICR regulations.

C1 means danger present — immediate action required. C2 means potentially dangerous — urgent remedial work required within 28 days. C3 is a recommendation only and is not legally required. FI means further investigation is needed.

No. An EICR lasts up to 5 years (or sooner if the report specifies). You give a copy to new tenants before they move in and to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.

The landlord. Any C1 or C2 code must be remedied within 28 days (or sooner for a C1 danger), and you must obtain written confirmation the work has been completed.

Usually £100–£300 depending on property size and location. Always ask for the full report, not just a one-page satisfactory certificate.

Currently, rental properties in England must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let. The maximum fine for letting an F or G property is £5,000. A minimum C rating is now confirmed government policy for all privately rented homes from 1 October 2030.

An EPC is valid for 10 years. You must have a valid EPC before marketing a property to let and provide a copy to the tenant before the tenancy starts.

Typically £60–£120 from an accredited domestic energy assessor, and it is valid for 10 years. You need a valid EPC before you market the property to let.

You cannot legally let it (fine up to £5,000) unless you register a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Cheap wins like loft insulation and LED lighting often lift a D or E up a band.

Government policy confirms all privately rented homes in England must reach EPC C by 1 October 2030. Plan improvements now — LetCompliance flags properties likely to fall short before the deadline.

You must protect the deposit in a government-authorised scheme (DPS, TDS or mydeposits) and serve Prescribed Information on the tenant within 30 calendar days of receiving it.

A court can order you to repay between 1 and 3 times the deposit amount to the tenant. Failing to protect a deposit also blocks a Section 8 possession claim until the deposit is returned or protected.

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the maximum deposit is 5 weeks' rent if annual rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks' rent if annual rent is £50,000 or more.

The scheme details you must give the tenant within 30 days of protecting the deposit: the scheme name and contact, how the deposit is protected, and how disputes are resolved. Failing to serve it carries the same 1–3× penalty as not protecting the deposit at all.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act tenancies are periodic from the outset, so protect the deposit and serve Prescribed Information once at the start and keep it protected for the life of the tenancy. Only take-and-protect again if you ever take a new deposit.

All private landlords in England must check that every adult occupier has the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. This applies regardless of nationality.

Civil penalties can reach £10,000 per occupier for a first breach and up to £20,000 per occupier for repeat breaches (lodger arrangements £5,000 / £10,000). These rates apply since 13 February 2024.

Either check original documents with the tenant present, or use the Home Office online service with a share code for those with digital status. Keep dated copies for the length of the tenancy.

Only if their right to rent is time-limited — you diarise a follow-up check before it expires. People with an unlimited right to rent do not need re-checking. LetCompliance tracks the follow-up date for you.

You must have at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers). Alarms must be working at the start of each tenancy, and you must repair or replace them once told they are faulty.

The local housing authority can issue a civil penalty of up to £5,000 per breach.

Yes. A carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, which includes a gas boiler. The only excluded appliance is a gas cooker.

A mandatory HMO licence is required where 5 or more people forming 2 or more households share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Many councils also run additional HMO or selective licensing in designated areas, so always check your council before letting.

An unlimited fine on conviction or a civil penalty of up to £30,000, plus a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months’ rent paid back to the tenant. It can also undermine a possession claim.

Yes. It handles HMOs as multi-tenancy per address with room-level management, and tracks each licence with renewal reminders alongside your other certificates.

Mandatory HMO licensing is national (5+ people, 2+ households). Additional HMO licensing is a local scheme extending HMO rules to smaller HMOs in designated areas. Selective licensing covers all private lets (not just HMOs) in specific wards. Additional and selective vary by council, so always check the postcode.

Typically £500–£1,000 for a five-year licence, depending on the council and property size. Some councils discount for accredited landlords.

Section 21 no-fault evictions were abolished on 1 May 2026 under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Landlords can no longer end a tenancy without a specific legal ground under Section 8.

Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 is now the only route to possession. Landlords must cite a specific ground — for example, Ground 1 (landlord moving in), Ground 1A (selling), or Ground 8 (at least 3 months' rent arrears). Notice periods vary by ground.

For tenancies that existed before the reforms, the government Information Sheet had to be served on tenants by 31 May 2026 (that deadline has now passed — if you missed it, serve it without delay). For every new tenancy from 1 May 2026 it must be served at the start of the tenancy. The maximum civil penalty is £7,000, rising to £40,000 for serious or repeat breaches.

Yes, but only once every 12 months and only through a Section 13 notice on the prescribed Form 4A, giving at least two months’ notice. The tenant can challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal, which cannot set a rent above what you proposed.

No. From 1 May 2026 all new and existing assured tenancies are periodic (rolling), so you can no longer grant a 6 or 12-month fixed term. LetCompliance’s tenancy builder already defaults to the new periodic assured tenancy.

Broadly yes. On a periodic tenancy the tenant can end it by giving two months’ notice at any point, so you can no longer rely on a fixed term to keep them for a set period.

A tenant can request to keep a pet and you must respond in writing on or before the 28th day (with a further 7 days if you reasonably ask for more information). You cannot unreasonably refuse, but you can require the tenant to hold pet insurance. LetCompliance runs the 28-day timer for you.

Yes, both are becoming mandatory for landlords under the Act, phased in from late 2026: a Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman and a national PRS Database you must register on before you let or advertise. Each carries civil penalties up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for serious or repeat breaches.

You serve a Section 8 notice citing a valid ground from Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988, wait out the notice period for that ground, and, if the tenant does not leave, apply to the court for a possession order. LetCompliance drafts the Section 8 notice with the correct verbatim ground wording and tracks the timeline.

Ground 8 is a mandatory ground: if the tenant owes at least three months’ rent (for monthly tenancies) both when you serve notice and at the hearing, the court must grant possession. LetCompliance’s rent ledger tells you the moment the threshold is met and builds the evidence pack.

No. Removing a tenant, changing the locks or harassing them into leaving without a court order and, if needed, county-court bailiffs is an illegal eviction — a criminal offence carrying up to two years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and civil damages.

You must assess and control the risk of Legionella in the water system. For most standard domestic rentals this is a simple written assessment you can do yourself; higher-risk systems (large tanks, HMOs) may need a specialist. There is no certificate, but you should keep a record.

For a standard single-family let, PAT testing is not legally mandatory, but any electrical appliances you supply must be safe. In licensed HMOs the council can require regular PAT testing as a licence condition.

Any furniture you provide must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations, alarms must work, and HMOs have additional duties such as fire doors and clear escape routes. LetCompliance tracks HMO fire-safety items alongside your certificates.

The three government-approved schemes in England and Wales are the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and mydeposits. Custodial options are free (the scheme holds the money); insured options let you hold it for a fee.

Only for genuine losses you can evidence — unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear, or cleaning to the check-in standard. You cannot deduct for fair wear and tear. A dated inventory with photos at check-in and check-out is your best evidence.

Each scheme offers free alternative dispute resolution (ADR): an adjudicator decides based on the evidence both sides submit. LetCompliance keeps the tenancy agreement, inventory, rent ledger and communications in one place so you can assemble a dispute pack quickly.

Yes. Documents are encrypted (AES-256 at rest), access is protected with row-level security so one account never sees another’s data, and we are UK GDPR-aware — we only process what is needed to run the service.

Yes. Your certificates and documents download any time, and finance figures export as CSV and PDF (including the SA105-shaped Tax Pack). Your data stays yours.

Yes. You can close your account and request deletion of your data at any time; export anything you want to keep first. See our Privacy Policy for retention detail.

Email letcomplianceuk@gmail.com and a real person replies, usually within 24 hours. There is also an in-app AI assistant and a full guides library.

Yes. There is no long contract — cancel from your billing settings whenever you like. If you drop below the free-tier limit you can keep one property free forever rather than losing access entirely.

Yes. LetCompliance runs in any modern browser on phone, tablet or desktop — there is no app to install, and your portfolio, reminders and documents are available wherever you are.

From 1 May 2026 almost all new residential lets in England are periodic assured tenancies — fixed-term ASTs are gone. LetCompliance’s tenancy builder defaults to the correct periodic assured tenancy so you never issue the wrong type.

You must give the tenant a written statement of the core terms. A full written agreement is strongly advisable as evidence, and LetCompliance generates and e-signs one for you.

Yes — we publish a free, up-to-date periodic assured tenancy template. Just make sure any template reflects the post-2026 rules; older fixed-term AST templates are now out of date.

All joint tenants sign one agreement and are jointly and severally liable for the whole rent. LetCompliance handles joint tenancies, including per-tenant referencing and Ground 8 arrears calculated across the tenancy.

You set the market rent at the start. During the tenancy, increases are limited to once every 12 months through a Section 13 notice, and the tenant can challenge an above-market rise at the First-tier Tribunal.

The Renters’ Rights Act limits how much rent you can require up front — broadly no more than one month once the tenancy is agreed. You can no longer demand large lump sums of advance rent to secure a let.

Either reduces arrears risk. A guarantor is referenced and signs a guarantee deed (which LetCompliance produces); rent guarantee insurance is a separate product some landlords add on top of strong referencing.

The landlord is responsible for the structure and exterior and for the installations for water, gas, electricity, heating and sanitation under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and for keeping the home fit for human habitation. Tenants must use the property in a tenant-like way.

Awaab’s Law sets fixed timescales to investigate and fix serious hazards such as damp and mould. It applies in the social sector now and is being extended to the private rented sector under the Renters’ Rights Act, so treat a prompt, recorded response as the standard.

Tenants log repair requests in the portal, you raise a contractor work order, and the response time is tracked — with AI repair triage to flag the urgent ones first.

No, landlord insurance is not a legal requirement — but a standard home policy will not cover a let property, and most buy-to-let mortgage lenders require buildings insurance as a condition. It is strongly recommended.

Typically buildings cover, plus optional landlord contents, property owner’s liability, loss of rent and legal expenses. LetCompliance can track your policy renewal date alongside your certificates so it never lapses unnoticed.

On a standard whole-property let the tenant is usually liable while they live there. For most HMOs the property is treated as a single dwelling and the landlord is liable for council tax (rules in force from 1 December 2023), so build it into the rent.

Yes. When a property sits empty between tenancies the landlord is normally liable for council tax, though some councils offer a short empty-property discount — check locally.

Many HMOs are let on an all-inclusive rent where the landlord pays the utilities and council tax and recovers them in the rent. Keep records — these are allowable expenses against your rental income.

Yes. There is a dedicated possession ground (Ground 4A) to recover a student HMO for the next academic year, but you must give written notice before the tenancy starts and the possession date must fall between 1 June and 30 September. LetCompliance flags the requirements.

If you live in the property and rent out a room, the lodger is usually an excluded occupier, not an assured tenant, so most of the tenancy regime does not apply. The Rent-a-Room scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free.

Genuine holiday lets and lets to a company sit outside the assured tenancy regime and the Renters’ Rights Act, but they carry their own tax and safety rules. Get advice before relying on either to sidestep the reforms.

Yes. The platform is built for UK property wherever you are based. If you are a non-resident landlord, your letting agent or tenant may have to operate the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme and deduct basic-rate tax from the rent unless HMRC approves you to receive it gross.

Each property is scored across the core statutory duties — Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection, Right to Rent and related items. The score is date-driven: an expired or missing certificate pulls it down immediately, so red / amber / green reflects real risk, not a box you ticked months ago.

A lapsed or missing certificate, an unprotected deposit, a missing Right to Rent check, or an approaching MEES or licence deadline. Fix the item and the score recovers straight away.

Yes. You can export a court-ready compliance pack per property, which is useful for a mortgage or insurance review, a prospective tenant, or evidence in a dispute.

Add your properties and enter the certificate dates (the AI can read expiry dates straight off uploaded PDFs) and you get a compliance score immediately. There is nothing technical to migrate — most landlords are set up in well under an hour.

Property Hawk is closing its free service, so export your records before access ends and add them to LetCompliance — free forever for one property. We have a step-by-step migration guide.

Yes. Email us and a real person will help, and the in-app AI assistant answers questions as you go.