What is Move-in Pack (Statutory)?

What goes in a landlord’s move-in pack?

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), the deposit Prescribed Information, and a written statement of terms before the tenancy is entered into. Only a deposit failure bars a Section 8 possession order (every ground except 7A and 14, until the deposit is protected with the Prescribed Information given, even late, or returned). Missing gas, EICR or EPC carry their own penalties and weigh against the landlord on the discretionary grounds, but they do not bar possession. The GOV.UK How to Rent guide was withdrawn on 1 May 2026 and is no longer served on new tenants.

Reviewed by Erdem VolkanLast reviewed 16 September 2026How we check facts

Why it matters

What Move-in Pack (Statutory) means for a landlord

The move-in pack is the set of documents a landlord must give at the start of a tenancy. For a tenancy starting after 1 May 2026 that means the written statement of terms before the tenancy is agreed, the gas safety record and EICR before the tenant moves in, a valid EPC, and the deposit certificate with the prescribed information within 30 days. Missing items carry their own penalties, and a deposit that is not protected also stops a court making a possession order on most grounds. Sending each document with a dated record is one of the most valuable things a landlord does on day one.

Worked example

How it plays out

Tom lets a flat in Oxford from 1 July 2026. A week before, he emails the tenant the written statement of terms. Before move-in he sends the gas safety record, the EICR and the EPC. On 5 July, after protecting the deposit, he sends the deposit certificate and prescribed information. Every item goes by email as an attachment, so his sent folder shows what was given and when.

An illustrative example. Names, places and figures are made up.

Common mistakes

Where landlords go wrong

01Still including the withdrawn How to Rent guide instead of the written statement of terms.
02Giving the gas safety record after the tenant moves in, when a new tenant should have it before.
03Handing documents over in person with no record of what was given.
04Sending the prescribed information before the deposit is actually protected, so the scheme details are wrong.

What to do

A short checklist

Send the written statement of terms before the tenancy is agreed.
Give the gas record, EICR and EPC before move-in.
Protect the deposit and send the prescribed information within 30 days.
Keep a dated record of every document sent.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.