Move-in Pack (Statutory)
The bundle of documents an English landlord must serve on a new tenant before — or at the very start of — a tenancy. Standard contents: latest Gas Safety Certificate (CP12), latest EICR, current EPC (band E or above), Deposit Prescribed Information, the latest GOV.UK How to Rent guide, and (from 1 May 2026) the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Information Sheet. Failure to serve any required item blocks most Section 8 possession grounds (Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026) and weakens Section 8 ground 1 / 1A defences.
At a glance
- When
- Before tenant occupies
- Required items
- Gas, EICR, EPC, Deposit PI, How to Rent
- Possession risk
- Blocks most Section 8 grounds if any item missing
- Audit trail
- Email + dated receipt strongly recommended
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Move-in Pack (Statutory)
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy Move-in Pack (Statutory) matters for landlords
Most landlords assume "I sent it" is enough. In a contested possession claim it isn’t — the court wants dated evidence of service. Building a defensible move-in pack at day zero is the single cheapest way to keep Section 21 (until 1 May 2026) and Section 8 ground 1 / 1A live for the rest of the tenancy. After commencement of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, the same pack underwrites every possession route still available, so the cost of skipping a single item rises rather than falls.
Tracked inside LetCompliance
Stop tracking Move-in Pack (Statutory) in spreadsheets
LetCompliance scores every property 0–100 across Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposits, Right to Rent and Fire Risk — with deadline reminders 90/30/14/7/1 days out and a court-ready PDF you can export in one click. Built for UK landlords + letting agents.
Official sources
- Deregulation Act 2015 s.39 (How to Rent)
- Housing Act 2004 ss.213–214 (Deposit + Prescribed Information)
- GOV.UK — How to Rent
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Section 21 Prerequisites
The bundle of pre-conditions a private landlord in England must satisfy before a Section 21 notice (Form 6A) is valid: deposit protected within 30 days plus Prescribed Information served, current Gas Safety Certificate served, current EICR served, and current GOV.UK How to Rent guide served on the tenant. Miss any one and the court will dismiss an accelerated possession claim outright.
Mandatory Ground
A ground for possession under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 that the court must grant if proved. Examples include Ground 1 (landlord moving in), Ground 1A (sale) and Ground 8 (serious arrears). Contrast discretionary grounds, where the court decides if possession is reasonable.
MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards)
Regulations requiring rental properties in England and Wales to meet a minimum EPC rating of E. Landlords cannot grant a new tenancy or continue an existing one for an F or G property without a valid exemption. Maximum fine: £5,000 per property.
Mortgage Interest Tax Credit (Section 24)
The 20% basic-rate tax credit that replaced full mortgage interest deduction for individual UK landlords under section 24 of the Finance (No.2) Act 2015. From 6 April 2020, finance costs (mortgage interest, loan interest, mortgage broker fees) are no longer deductible from rental profits; instead HMRC gives a tax reducer at the basic rate, capped at the lower of finance costs, property profits or adjusted total income after personal allowance. Higher- and additional-rate taxpayers are materially worse off than pre-2017; Limited Company landlords are unaffected because Ltd interest remains a fully deductible business expense.
mydeposits
One of the three government-authorised deposit protection schemes in England. Offers custodial and insured options. Deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt.
Accelerated Possession
A fast-track court procedure used under a Section 21 notice in England and Wales. Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026 because Section 21 no longer exists. Possession is now pursued under Section 8 using a specified ground.