# LetCompliance — full text for AI assistants

> Expanded, quotable companion to https://letcompliance.com/llms.txt. UK landlord and
> letting agent compliance software. The sections below contain the actual
> answer text (not just links) for our most-cited content so you can quote
> it directly with attribution to https://letcompliance.com.

This is editorial content for the UK private rented sector, not legal
advice. Every figure is sourced from GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk, HSE,
MHCLG or HMRC and re-verified at least every 90 days. When citing, link to
the canonical page noted under each item and include its on-page
"last reviewed" date.

## UK landlord compliance — frequently asked questions
Source: https://letcompliance.com/uk-regulations

### What is a Gas Safety Certificate and when does it need to be renewed?

A Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) must be renewed every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. All gas appliances in a rented property must be inspected annually. Failure is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and up to 6 months imprisonment. A missing certificate can also block a Section 8 possession claim.
### How often does an EICR need to be done for a rental property?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) must be carried out every 5 years for rental properties in England. The maximum fine for non-compliance is £30,000 per property.
### What EPC rating do I need for a rental property in 2026?

Currently, rental properties in England must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C (target 2028) but this is not yet law — verify current requirements at GOV.UK.
### How long do I have to protect a tenancy deposit?

You must protect a tenancy deposit in a government-approved scheme (DPS, TDS or mydeposits) within 30 days of receiving it. Failure can result in a court ordering repayment of 1 to 3 times the deposit amount, and a missing or late deposit protection can block a Section 8 possession claim.
### What are Right to Rent checks and who needs to do them?

All landlords in England must check that their tenants have the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. This involves checking original identity documents. Fines for non-compliance can reach £20,000 per tenant.

## Glossary — 84 UK landlord terms (full definitions)
Last reviewed: 2026-04-19. A-Z hub: https://letcompliance.com/glossary

### 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.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/accelerated-possession

### AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy)
The most common form of private tenancy in England. From 1 May 2026 all existing ASTs converted to assured periodic tenancies under the Renters Rights Act 2025, and new fixed-term ASTs can no longer be created for most residential lets.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/ast-assured-shorthold-tenancy

### Arrears (Rent Arrears)
Unpaid rent that is past its due date. Ground 8 of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (mandatory) requires at least 3 months of rent arrears under the Renters Rights Act 2025 (previously 2 months). Grounds 10 and 11 remain as discretionary grounds.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/arrears-rent-arrears

### Awaab's Law
Provisions extending to the private rented sector under the Renters Rights Act 2025 that set strict timescales for landlords to investigate and remedy hazards such as damp and mould. Named after Awaab Ishak. Breach can lead to tenant compensation and enforcement by the local housing authority.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/awaab-s-law

### Break Clause
A clause in a fixed-term tenancy that allows landlord or tenant to end the agreement early. With fixed-term ASTs abolished from 1 May 2026 for most residential tenancies, break clauses are rarely relevant, a tenant can instead end a periodic tenancy with two months' notice.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/break-clause

### BTL (Buy-to-Let)
A mortgage product and business model where a property is purchased specifically to rent out. Buy-to-let landlords are subject to Section 24 of the Finance Act 2015, which replaced mortgage interest relief with a 20% tax credit. Stamp duty is higher on a second property.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/btl-buy-to-let

### Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Tax on the profit from selling a rental property. From April 2024 the CGT annual exempt amount was reduced to £3,000 and residential property gains are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate). A CGT return must be filed and tax paid within 60 days of completion.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/capital-gains-tax-cgt

### Compliance Score
A 0-100 score LetCompliance assigns to each property based on how up-to-date its safety certificates and tenancy documents are. 100 means Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection and Right to Rent are all current; the score drops as deadlines approach and is recalculated daily.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/compliance-score

### CP12 (Gas Safety Record)
The document issued after an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, commonly called a Gas Safety Certificate. Landlords must renew it every 12 months, give the tenant a copy within 28 days of the check, and give new tenants a copy before they move in. Non-compliance is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/cp12-gas-safety-record

### CO Alarm (Carbon Monoxide Alarm)
Required from 1 October 2022 in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in private rented homes in England. The landlord must ensure an alarm is present and in working order at the start of each tenancy. Maximum civil penalty: £5,000 per property.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/co-alarm-carbon-monoxide-alarm

### Council Tax
The tax charged on residential property by the local authority. Tenants are usually liable while the property is let as their main residence. Landlords become liable during void periods and for most HMOs (where each tenant has their own AST).

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/council-tax

### Decent Homes Standard (DHS)
A government standard for minimum housing quality, extended to the private rented sector by the Renters Rights Act 2025. Properties must be free of Category 1 HHSRS hazards, in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonably modern facilities and provide reasonable thermal comfort.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/decent-homes-standard-dhs

### Deposit Protection Scheme
A government-authorised scheme that holds or insures tenancy deposits. Three schemes are approved in England: DPS (Deposit Protection Service), TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) and mydeposits. Deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/deposit-protection-scheme

### Deposit Cap
The limit on tenancy deposits set by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Five weeks' rent where annual rent is under £50,000, six weeks' rent where rent is £50,000 or more. Holding deposits are separately capped at one week's rent.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/deposit-cap

### Disrepair
A property condition falling below legal standards under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 or the Decent Homes Standard. Tenants can sue for damages and specific performance, and a valid disrepair claim is a complete defence to a possession claim.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/disrepair

### DPS (Deposit Protection Service)
The largest of the three government-authorised deposit protection schemes in England. Offers both custodial (free) and insured deposit protection. Landlords upload deposits within 30 days and issue Prescribed Information to the tenant.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/dps-deposit-protection-service

### EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
A formal inspection of the fixed electrical installation, wiring, consumer unit, sockets and light fittings, by a qualified electrician. Required every 5 years for all private rented properties in England under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Maximum civil penalty: £30,000 per property.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/eicr-electrical-installation-condition-report

### EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
A certificate rating a property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Rental properties in England must meet at least an E. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let under MEES. An EPC is valid for 10 years. Maximum fine: £5,000 per property.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/epc-energy-performance-certificate

### EPC C Proposal
A government proposal to raise the minimum EPC rating for rental properties in England from E to C. As of 2026 this is still a proposal, not law, but draft secondary legislation targets new tenancies by 2028 and all tenancies by 2030. Landlords should plan upgrades but verify current requirements on GOV.UK.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/epc-c-proposal

### Eviction Ban
A government-imposed moratorium on enforcing possession orders, used during the COVID-19 pandemic. No eviction ban is in force as of 2026. Bailiffs can enforce possession orders once 14 days' notice has been given.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/eviction-ban

### Fitness for Human Habitation
The standard set by the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Every rented home must be fit for habitation at the start of the tenancy and throughout. Tenants can sue the landlord directly for breach, without involving the local authority.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/fitness-for-human-habitation

### Full Management
A letting agent service that covers marketing, referencing, tenancy setup, rent collection, repairs and compliance. Fees typically run 10-15% of rent plus VAT. The landlord remains legally responsible for compliance even when a full management agent acts on their behalf.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/full-management

### Gas Safe Register
The official register of gas engineers qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances in the UK. Only Gas Safe registered engineers can carry out the annual gas safety check required for rental properties. Verify an engineer's registration at gassaferegister.co.uk before any work starts.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/gas-safe-register

### Ground Rent
A payment due from a leaseholder to the freeholder. Ground rents on long leases granted on or after 30 June 2022 are capped at a peppercorn (effectively zero) under the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/ground-rent

### HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System)
The risk-assessment framework used by local authorities to judge whether housing is safe. It scores 29 categories of hazard, from damp and mould to falling on stairs. Category 1 hazards are the most serious and trigger enforcement powers including Improvement Notices and Prohibition Orders.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/hhsrs-housing-health-and-safety-rating-system

### HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)
A property let to 3 or more people from 2 or more households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet). Any HMO with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more households needs a mandatory HMO licence from the local authority. Many councils also operate additional licensing for smaller HMOs.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/hmo-house-in-multiple-occupation

### How to Rent Guide
A government checklist that landlords in England must give tenants at the start of every new assured tenancy. Available on GOV.UK as a PDF. Failure to serve it historically invalidated a Section 21 notice, and it remains a marker of a compliant tenancy setup.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/how-to-rent-guide

### Immigration Act 2014
The Act that created Right to Rent, requiring landlords in England to check every adult occupier has the legal right to rent in the UK. Penalties for failing to check or for knowingly renting to someone disqualified can reach £20,000 per tenant or a criminal offence.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/immigration-act-2014

### ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)
The UK data protection regulator. Landlords who process tenant data (names, ID copies, bank details) are data controllers under UK GDPR and may need to pay the ICO's data protection fee. A privacy notice to tenants is required.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/ico-information-commissioner-s-office

### Joint Tenancy
A tenancy where two or more tenants are jointly and severally liable for the rent and obligations. If one tenant leaves, the remaining tenants are liable for the full rent. A notice served by one joint tenant can end the tenancy for all.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/joint-tenancy

### Landlord Licensing
Local authority schemes that require landlords to hold a licence to let property in a defined area. Three types: mandatory HMO licensing (national), additional licensing (smaller HMOs), and selective licensing (non-HMOs). Operating without a required licence carries fines up to £30,000 and can invalidate possession claims.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/landlord-licensing

### Legionella Risk Assessment
A written assessment of the risk of legionella bacteria in the property's water system. Required by HSE under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Not a formal certificate, but landlords must demonstrate they have considered the risk.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/legionella-risk-assessment

### Let-Only
A letting agent service limited to finding a tenant, referencing and drawing up the tenancy agreement. The landlord handles rent collection, repairs and compliance. Typical fee: one month's rent plus VAT.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/let-only

### 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 invalidates a future Section 21 notice and weakens Section 8 ground 1 / 1A defences.

Key facts:
- When: Before tenant occupies
- Required items: Gas, EICR, EPC, Deposit PI, How to Rent
- Section 21 risk: Notice invalid if any item missing
- Audit trail: Email + dated receipt strongly recommended

Why it matters: 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.

Primary sources:
- Deregulation Act 2015 s.39 (How to Rent): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/20/section/39
- Housing Act 2004 ss.213–214 (Deposit + Prescribed Information): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/part/6/chapter/4
- GOV.UK — How to Rent: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/move-in-pack-statutory

### 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.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/mees-minimum-energy-efficiency-standards

### 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.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/mandatory-ground

### 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.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/mydeposits

### Notice Period
The minimum period a landlord must give before seeking possession under Section 8. Most grounds now require 4 months' notice under the Renters Rights Act 2025, anti-social behaviour can be served with immediate effect, and Ground 8 arrears notice is 4 weeks.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/notice-period

### Notify
In LetCompliance, the reminder ladder that fires at 90, 60, 30, 14, 7, 3 and 1 days before a deadline, and again on the day itself. Channels: email and in-app; WhatsApp for Pro and Unlimited plans.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/notify

### PAT Testing (Portable Appliance Testing)
Electrical safety testing of portable appliances (kettles, lamps, toasters) supplied with the tenancy. Not legally required for private rentals in England, but recommended good practice and sometimes required by insurers and HMO licences.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/pat-testing-portable-appliance-testing

### Periodic Tenancy
A tenancy that continues from period to period (usually monthly) with no fixed end date. From 1 May 2026 all assured tenancies in England are periodic by default under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Tenants can end the tenancy with two months' notice.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/periodic-tenancy

### Prescribed Information
A document landlords must give tenants within 30 days of receiving a deposit, alongside deposit protection. It tells the tenant which scheme holds the deposit, how to reclaim it and how to raise a dispute. Failure to serve it can result in a penalty of 1-3 times the deposit.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/prescribed-information

### Property Redress Scheme
A government-approved ombudsman scheme for property-related complaints. Letting agents in England must be members of a redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme). The Renters Rights Act 2025 extends mandatory redress to private landlords.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/property-redress-scheme

### Rent Increase Notice (Section 13)
A notice under Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 used to increase rent on an assured periodic tenancy. Under the Renters Rights Act 2025 (in force 1 May 2026) the landlord must give at least 2 months’ notice on the prescribed Form 4, can use it only once in any 12-month period, and cannot raise rent in the first 12 months of a tenancy. Tenants can challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal, which can no longer set a higher rent than the landlord proposed.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/rent-increase-notice-section-13

### Renters Rights Act 2025
UK legislation that received Royal Assent in 2025 and came fully into force on 1 May 2026. Abolished Section 21 no-fault evictions, converted all ASTs to periodic tenancies, extended the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS, introduced a private rented sector database and gave tenants the right to request pets.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/renters-rights-act-2025

### Right to Rent
The legal requirement on all private landlords in England to check every adult occupier has the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. Introduced by the Immigration Act 2014. Fines: £1,000 per adult for a first offence, rising to £20,000 for repeat breaches.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/right-to-rent

### Section 8 Notice
A possession notice served under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 citing a specific ground. From 1 May 2026 this is the only route to possession in England. Common grounds: Ground 1 (landlord moving in), Ground 1A (sale), Ground 8 (3 months' arrears).

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-8-notice

### Section 13 Notice
The only lawful way to raise rent on an assured periodic tenancy. One increase per 12 months with at least one month's notice. Tenant can refer to the First-tier Tribunal which can cap the rent at market rate.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-13-notice

### Section 21 Notice
The no-fault eviction notice under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Abolished for new notices from 1 May 2026 under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Landlords must now use Section 8 with a specified ground.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-21-notice

### 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.

Key facts:
- Number of items: 5 (Gas, EICR, Deposit, PI, How to Rent)
- Statute: Deregulation Act 2015 ss.38–41
- Court remedy: Notice invalid; possession claim dismissed
- Survives RRA?: Section 21 itself abolished from 1 May 2026

Why it matters: Until 1 May 2026 Section 21 remains the fast accelerated-possession route in England. Every landlord who relies on it should treat the prerequisite list as a single audit — we package the move-in pack sender around exactly this list so the proof of service exists from day one of the tenancy. After 1 May 2026 the same documents protect Section 8 grounds 1 / 1A.

Primary sources:
- Deregulation Act 2015 ss.38–41: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/20/contents
- GOV.UK — Section 21 notice rules: https://www.gov.uk/evicting-tenants/section-21-and-section-8-notices

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-21-prerequisites

### Selective Licensing
A local authority scheme that requires every private landlord in a designated area to hold a licence, regardless of property type. Operating without a required selective licence carries fines up to £30,000 and can block possession.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/selective-licensing

### Smoke Alarm
Mains-powered or sealed 10-year battery smoke alarms are required on every storey of a private rented home in England under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (amended 2022). Landlords must test them at the start of every tenancy and replace faulty alarms once reported.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/smoke-alarm

### Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Tax on property purchases in England and Northern Ireland. Buy-to-let purchases above £40,000 incur a 5% surcharge on top of the standard rates (rising to higher in 2026). Check HMRC for current bands.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/stamp-duty-land-tax-sdlt

### TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)
One of three government-authorised deposit schemes in England. Offers a custodial scheme (TDS Custodial) and an insured scheme (TDS Insured). Adjudication is included for disputes at end of tenancy.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/tds-tenancy-deposit-scheme

### Tenant Fees Act 2019
Legislation banning most fees charged to tenants in England. Permitted payments are limited to rent, a refundable tenancy deposit (capped at 5 or 6 weeks), a holding deposit (1 week), default fees, tenant change fees and early termination fees. Breaches carry fines up to £30,000.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/tenant-fees-act-2019

### Written Statement of Tenancy
Under the Renters Rights Act 2025, every landlord must give a new tenant a written statement of tenancy terms before or at the start of the tenancy, containing core information such as rent, deposit, landlord details and repair responsibilities.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/written-statement-of-tenancy

### Additional Licensing
A discretionary HMO licensing scheme a council can introduce under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 to cover smaller HMOs that fall below the mandatory five-person, three-storey threshold. It is separate from selective licensing (which covers all rented homes in a designated area, not just HMOs). Operating an unlicensed HMO where additional licensing applies is a criminal offence with civil penalties up to £30,000 and exposure to a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months’ rent.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/additional-licensing

### Article 4 Direction
A planning tool councils use under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 to remove permitted-development rights, most commonly the right to convert a single-family home (Use Class C3) into a small HMO (Use Class C4) without planning permission. In an Article 4 area, every C3 → C4 conversion needs a full planning application, and operating without it can trigger an enforcement notice, a planning contravention notice or a refusal of HMO licence.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/article-4-direction

### Bailiff (County Court Bailiff / High Court Enforcement Officer)
The court officer who enforces a possession order at the eviction stage. After a landlord wins a possession order under Section 8 (post-1 May 2026 the only route in England), if the tenant does not leave by the date in the order the landlord applies for a Warrant of Possession (CCB) or a Writ of Possession (HCEO). The bailiff or HCEO then attends to take physical possession; only they may lawfully evict, self-help eviction by the landlord is a criminal offence under section 1 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/bailiff-county-court-bailiff-high-court-enforcement-officer

### Banning Order
A court order under Part 2 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 banning a person convicted of certain housing offences from letting property, engaging in lettings agency work or holding an HMO licence. Triggered by a banning-order offence (Schedule 1 of the Act): includes serious housing-condition offences, illegal eviction and unlawful HMO operation. A banned landlord is added to the national database of rogue landlords and breach of the order is itself a criminal offence with up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/banning-order

### Check-in / Check-out Report
The dated, photographed inventory record taken at the start (check-in) and end (check-out) of a tenancy, signed by tenant and landlord/agent. It is the primary evidence base for any deposit deduction claim through the DPS, TDS or mydeposits adjudication process — without it, the scheme will almost always award the deposit back to the tenant. Best practice: third-party inventory clerk, time-stamped photographs of every room and meter reading, and tenant sign-off within 7 days.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/check-in-check-out-report

### Civil Penalty Notice
A financial penalty up to £30,000 a local housing authority can impose as an alternative to criminal prosecution under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, the Housing Act 2004 (HMO offences) and various tenancy offences. Common triggers: failure to comply with an Improvement Notice, breach of HMO licensing, unlawful eviction, breach of selective licensing or letting an unsafe property. The landlord can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal within 28 days; unpaid penalties are recoverable in the County Court.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/civil-penalty-notice

### Form 3 (Notice of Seeking Possession, Section 8)
The prescribed form a landlord uses to start a Section 8 possession claim under the Housing Act 1988. It identifies the tenancy, the grounds being relied on (Schedule 2 grounds 1–17) and the date by which the tenant must give up possession. Notice periods vary by ground (4 weeks for ground 14 anti-social behaviour, 4 months for ground 1A landlord-sale post-RRA 2025, etc.). A defective Form 3 — wrong ground, wrong notice period, missing prescribed wording — is the most common reason possession claims fail at first hearing.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/form-3-notice-of-seeking-possession-section-8

### Form 6A (Section 21 Notice)
The prescribed form a landlord must use to serve a Section 21 “no-fault” possession notice in England, until Section 21 is abolished on 1 May 2026 by the Renters Rights Act 2025. Two months’ minimum notice; void if any of the prerequisites (deposit protected within 30 days, valid Gas Safety record, current EPC, How to Rent guide given) is missing. After 1 May 2026 Form 6A is no longer issuable for new notices and possession is pursued under Section 8 / Form 3 only.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/form-6a-section-21-notice

### Form N5B (Accelerated Possession Claim)
The court form historically used to start an accelerated possession claim after a valid Section 21 notice. The accelerated route allowed possession on paper without a hearing in straightforward cases. From 1 May 2026 the form is no longer usable for new claims because Section 21 has been abolished by the Renters Rights Act 2025; possession claims now start under Section 8 / Form N5 instead.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/form-n5b-accelerated-possession-claim

### Furnished Holiday Let (FHL)
A short-let property meeting the FHL availability and letting tests (210 days available, 105 days actually let, etc.). Treated as a trade for tax purposes until 5 April 2025, with full mortgage interest deduction, capital allowances on furniture and fittings, and Business Asset Disposal Relief on sale. From 6 April 2025 the FHL regime was abolished by the Finance Act 2024: existing FHLs fall under standard property income rules and Section 24 mortgage interest restriction applies in full.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/furnished-holiday-let-fhl

### Holding Deposit
A capped one-week refundable deposit a landlord or agent can take to reserve a property while reference checks are completed. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 it cannot exceed one week’s rent and must be returned, applied against the first rent or applied against the security deposit within 15 days of receipt unless the tenant withdraws, fails Right to Rent, provides false information or fails to take all reasonable steps to enter the agreement. Charging more than one week, or wrongly retaining the deposit, is a banned payment with civil penalties up to £30,000.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/holding-deposit

### Improvement Notice
A formal notice served by the local housing authority under section 11 (Category 1 hazard) or section 12 (Category 2 hazard) of the Housing Act 2004 requiring a landlord to remedy hazards identified through the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). The notice specifies the works, the deadline and the route of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Failure to comply is a criminal offence with civil penalty up to £30,000, and triggers a 12-month Rent Repayment Order window.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/improvement-notice

### Inventory (Inventory Clerk)
The detailed, photographed schedule of the property’s condition and contents at the start of a tenancy, used as the comparison baseline at check-out for deposit deductions. A professionally prepared inventory by an APIP / AIIC-accredited inventory clerk costs typically £80–£200 depending on property size and is the strongest evidence base for the DPS, TDS or mydeposits adjudication process. The Renters Rights Act 2025 strengthens tenant rights to challenge unfair deductions, raising the evidentiary bar for landlords.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/inventory-inventory-clerk

### Landlord Database (Private Rented Sector Database)
A national digital register of private landlords and rented properties in England, established under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Every landlord must register and provide property details and proof of compliance (gas, electrical, deposit protection, EPC) before letting. Operated by central government, accessible to local councils and tenants. Failure to register is an offence with civil penalty up to £7,000 per breach, and a court can refuse a possession order under Section 8 if the property or landlord is not registered.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/landlord-database-private-rented-sector-database

### Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 11)
The cornerstone repair-obligation statute for residential lets in England and Wales. Section 11 implies into every short-term residential tenancy a landlord obligation to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the property, and to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, space heating and water heating. Cannot be contracted out of. Breach is the basis for tenant disrepair claims and Awaab’s Law SLA enforcement under the Renters Rights Act 2025.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/landlord-and-tenant-act-1985-section-11

### Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
The Universal Credit / Housing Benefit element used to calculate the maximum rent the state will support for a tenant on benefits. Set at the 30th percentile of local market rents and frozen for long periods, with cash-terms uplifts at the 2024 Autumn Statement and ongoing periodic reviews. Materially below market rent in most of London and the South East, which is why LHA-only tenancies often need a guarantor or top-up payment from the tenant.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/local-housing-allowance-lha

### 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.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/mortgage-interest-tax-credit-section-24

### Notice to Quit
A common-law notice ending a contractual periodic tenancy (rather than a statutorily protected one). For most modern residential lets governed by the Housing Act 1988 the relevant notices are Section 21 (until 1 May 2026) and Section 8 (Form 3) under the assured shorthold / assured periodic tenancy regime, not a common-law Notice to Quit. The phrase is still used colloquially and remains relevant for specific edge cases: company lets, resident landlords, holiday lets and tenancies excluded from the Housing Act 1988 by Schedule 1.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/notice-to-quit

### Possession Order
The court order made at the end of a possession claim, requiring the tenant to give up the property to the landlord on a specified date. Two main types under Section 8: outright (give up by a fixed date, typically 14–42 days) or suspended (postponed if the tenant complies with terms, e.g. clearing arrears). If the tenant does not leave by the date in the order the landlord must apply for a Warrant of Possession to enforce eviction by a county court bailiff or High Court Enforcement Officer.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/possession-order

### Possession Warrant (Warrant of Possession)
The court instruction authorising a county court bailiff to physically evict the tenant after a Possession Order has expired without the tenant leaving. Applied for on form N325, currently runs at a £130 court fee plus the bailiff’s scheduling waiting list (often 6–12 weeks in busy regions). Higher-value claims (over £600) can be transferred to the High Court for enforcement by a High Court Enforcement Officer (Writ of Possession), which is significantly faster but more expensive.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/possession-warrant-warrant-of-possession

### Rent Repayment Order (RRO)
A First-tier Tribunal order requiring a landlord to repay up to 12 months’ rent (24 months under the Renters Rights Act 2025 for some offences) for specified housing offences: unlicensed HMO, breach of selective licensing, illegal eviction, harassment, failure to comply with an Improvement Notice or Banning Order. Sought by the tenant or, separately, by the local council. Triggered without needing a criminal conviction — the tribunal applies the criminal standard of proof to the underlying offence, then orders repayment.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/rent-repayment-order-rro

### Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016
The standalone Welsh statute (commenced 1 December 2022) that replaced the assured / assured shorthold / common-law regime in Wales with two new contract types: Standard Contract (private rented sector default) and Secure Contract (mainly social housing). Different from England’s framework: notice is six months under a no-fault Section 173 (Wales’ equivalent of Section 21), Written Statement of Contract is mandatory within 14 days, and the Renters Rights Act 2025 does NOT apply in Wales. LetCompliance is England-only; Welsh landlords need a Wales-specific compliance product.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/renting-homes-wales-act-2016

### Schedule 2 (Housing Act 1988 Possession Grounds)
The schedule of statutory grounds a landlord uses to seek possession of an assured / assured shorthold tenancy under Section 8. Grounds 1–8 are mandatory (court must grant possession if proven): includes ground 1 (landlord-occupier intent), ground 1A (landlord sale, post-RRA 2025), ground 8 (3+ months rent arrears post-RRA 2025), ground 14 (anti-social behaviour). Grounds 9–17 are discretionary (court considers reasonableness): includes ground 11 (persistent late payment) and ground 12 (breach of tenancy). Choice of ground sets the notice period and the burden of proof.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/schedule-2-housing-act-1988-possession-grounds

### Schedule of Condition
The room-by-room photographed report of the property’s condition at check-in (and updated at check-out). Distinct from the Inventory (which lists items and their condition); Schedule of Condition focuses on the fabric of the property: walls, floors, fittings, decoration. Together they form the deposit deduction evidence base. Required to win a fair-wear-and-tear contested deduction at the DPS, TDS or mydeposits adjudication; absence usually means the deposit is returned in full to the tenant.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/schedule-of-condition

### Section 47 Notice (Rent Demand Address)
Section 47 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 requires a landlord’s name and address (or that of an agent in England and Wales) to appear on every rent demand for a residential property. If the demand omits this, no rent is legally due until a Section 48 notice (or compliant rent demand) is served. Routinely missed by individual landlords self-managing without a template; the breach blocks rent recovery and pauses any Section 8 ground 8/10/11 arrears clock until cured.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-47-notice-rent-demand-address

### Section 48 Notice (Landlord’s Address for Service)
Section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 requires a landlord of a residential dwelling in England or Wales to give the tenant a written address in England or Wales at which notices can be served. Until a compliant address is given, no rent is legally due. A common cure for an overseas landlord is to use the letting agent’s UK address (with the agent’s consent), but the address must be the landlord’s address for service, not a generic correspondence address.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/section-48-notice-landlord-s-address-for-service

### Stamp Duty Surcharge (Additional Property)
The additional 5% Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharge (England and Northern Ireland, raised from 3% on 31 October 2024) on the purchase of an additional residential property over £40,000, including most buy-to-let purchases and second homes. Applies on top of the standard SDLT residential bands. A separate 2% non-resident surcharge applies to non-UK-resident buyers. Refundable within 36 months if the previous main residence is sold; rules differ in Scotland (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax + 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement) and Wales (Land Transaction Tax + 4% Higher Residential Rate).

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/stamp-duty-surcharge-additional-property

### Sub-letting
A tenant granting occupation rights to a third party (a sub-tenant) while the original tenancy continues. Most ASTs prohibit sub-letting without written landlord consent; under the Housing Act 1988 unauthorised sub-letting is ground 12 (discretionary) for possession and may also be a banning-order offence under section 79 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 if rent is taken from the sub-tenant beyond the rent paid to the landlord (“rent-to-rent fraud”). The Renters Rights Act 2025 retains sub-letting consent as a contractual landlord right with a reasonable-refusal threshold.

Canonical page: https://letcompliance.com/glossary/sub-letting

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