What Documents Must Landlords Give Tenants in England?

If you rent out property in England, use this guide to prepare the tenant document pack before move-in and keep evidence of when each document was provided.

Tenant document handover matters because some documents must be given before or at the start of a tenancy, while others are triggered by a deposit, safety check, or property feature. Keeping a dated record helps show what was provided, when it was provided, and which version was used.

For England landlords, missing key documents can create practical problems later. For example, failure to provide certain prescribed documents can affect possession processes, and missing deposit information can create deposit protection risk.

Documents to prepare before move-in

• The current How to Rent guide for England.
• The current EPC for the property.
• The latest gas safety record if the property has relevant gas appliances or flues.
• The written tenancy agreement and any agreed tenancy terms.
• Information explaining how tenants should report repairs, safety issues, or urgent problems.

Documents triggered by payment or setup

• Deposit protection details and prescribed information if you take a tenancy deposit.
• Inventory and condition records if you use an inventory at move-in.
• Licensing or HMO information where relevant to the property.

Evidence to keep

• A dated document handover checklist.
• Copies or filenames of the exact documents provided.
• Email receipts, signed acknowledgements, or portal activity showing delivery.
• Deposit protection and prescribed information records where relevant.
• Notes of any later document updates or replacements.

Before move-in

• Prepare the current How to Rent guide for England.
• Prepare the EPC and the gas safety record where relevant.
• Prepare the tenancy agreement, agreed terms, and repair reporting instructions.

When money is received

• Protect any tenancy deposit in an approved scheme within the required deadline.
• Serve prescribed information and keep evidence of delivery.
• Store deposit protection details with the tenancy records.

Move-in record

• Complete an inventory or condition record if you use one.
• Record document delivery using email receipts, signatures, or portal activity.
• Keep copies of the exact versions provided to the tenant.

Ongoing updates

• Keep replacement certificates and updated documents linked to the property.
• Record when updated documents are sent to tenants.
• Review the document pack before renewal, re-letting, or compliance checks.

Next steps

Landlord Compliance Hub (England) Use the main hub to navigate certificates, safety checks, documents, and recurring landlord duties. Gas Safety Certificate Requirements for Landlords Check when a gas safety record is required and how it fits into the tenant document pack. EPC Requirements for Rental Properties Confirm EPC status and evidence before marketing, letting, or renewing a tenancy. Rental Property Document Storage for Landlords Use RentPilot to store document handover evidence, certificates, and tenant communication records.