Guides
Plain-English landlord compliance guides
Background, costs and the legal source for every certificate UK landlords need.
Hometree vs HomeServe for UK landlord home cover: 2026 comparison
Side-by-side comparison of Hometree and HomeServe for landlords needing boiler, gas, electrical and home emergency cover. Pricing, claim limits, response times and the small print.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
BOXT vs Heatable: 2026 boiler installation comparison for UK landlords
Both BOXT and Heatable will quote and install a new boiler online. We compare turnaround times, brand range, finance options and what landlords actually need to know.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Checkatrade vs Bark vs MyBuilder for landlord certificates: 2026 comparison
Honest comparison of the three biggest UK platforms for booking EICR, gas safety, EPC and HMO certificates. Where each shines, where each falls down, and which to pick for which job.
8 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Tenant deposit protection schemes explained for UK landlords (2026)
Which protection scheme to pick, custodial vs insured, deadlines, what counts as a deposit, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
PAT
PAT testing for UK landlords: what it is, who needs it, how much it costs
Portable Appliance Testing in plain English: when it is mandatory for HMOs, the recommended cycle for ordinary lets, typical UK cost, and how to book a competent engineer.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
EPC
MEES and the C-rating deadline: what UK landlords should plan for now
The current minimum E rating, the proposed C-rating deadline for new tenancies in 2028, what improvements lift a property from D to C, and how to register an exemption.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
HMO Licence
Selective licensing in 2026: who needs a licence, what councils require, how to apply
Borough-by-borough rules vary, but the framework is the same. Plain-English guide to selective licensing, what triggers it, typical fees, and how to apply.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
EICR
EICR certificates explained: what UK landlords need in 2026
Plain-English guide to Electrical Installation Condition Reports: what they are, who needs one, what they cost, and how to book.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Gas Safety
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) explained for UK landlords
What a CP12 is, why landlords need one every twelve months, how much it costs and how to book a Gas Safe engineer.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
EPC
EPC ratings explained: what UK landlords need to know in 2026
Energy Performance Certificates, the current minimum rating, the proposed C rating deadline, costs, and how to improve a property's EPC.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
HMO Licence
HMO licensing in 2026: rules, fees and council variation
What counts as an HMO, when a licence is mandatory or selective, how fees vary by council, and what the licence conditions actually require.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Fire Risk
Fire Risk Assessment for UK landlords: who needs one and what is involved
When a Fire Risk Assessment is mandatory, what is checked, typical cost, and how the rules changed under the Building Safety Act and 2023 amendments.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
UK landlord compliance calendar 2026: every renewal you need to track
Every certificate, registration and renewal a UK landlord needs to stay on top of in 2026, with cycle lengths, typical cost bands and the legal source for each.
8 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
EICR
EICR cost by London borough 2026: full 32-borough table
Typical EICR cost for a rental property in every London borough, with the why-it-varies analysis and tips for landlords with portfolios across multiple boroughs.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
HMO Licence
UK HMO licensing schemes mapped: 30 councils, fees and thresholds
Mandatory, Additional and Selective HMO licensing across 30 UK councils — fees, scheme thresholds, and the official council link for every one.
9 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Annual compliance cost for a UK rental property: typical totals 2026
Add up every recurring landlord cost for a single rental property in 2026: gas, electrical, PAT, EPC, fire risk, ICO, insurance and council fees. Use it to sanity-check yields.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Renters' Rights Bill: what every UK landlord needs to know in 2026
The Renters' Rights Bill ends Section 21 evictions, abolishes fixed-term assured tenancies, and overhauls grounds and notice. Here is what changes for landlords in 2026.
9 min read · Updated 2026-05-21
Best platform for UK landlords 2026: Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark
Side-by-side comparison of the three biggest UK home services platforms for landlord compliance work: vetting, fees, quote speed, geographic coverage and which to pick by job type.
8 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
EICR
Best platform to book an EICR in the UK 2026: Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark
EICR-specific comparison of the three biggest UK home services platforms. NICEIC verification, typical cost, lead time and a recommendation for landlords.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Gas Safety
Best platform to book a Gas Safety certificate in the UK 2026
Gas Safety (CP12) comparison of Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Bark. Gas Safe register cross-check, typical fees, and how to avoid an invalid certificate.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
EPC
Best platform to book an EPC in the UK 2026
Energy Performance Certificate comparison of the three platforms. Domestic Energy Assessor accreditation, fees, and how the EPC C rule changes the calculation.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
PAT
Best platform to book PAT testing in the UK 2026
PAT testing comparison: Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark. PAT is not legally mandatory but most landlords test annually; here is how to find a competent tester at a sensible price.
4 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Fire Risk
Best platform to book a Fire Risk Assessment in the UK 2026
Fire Risk Assessment comparison: Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark. BAFE SP205 verification, HMO and block of flats specifics, and recommended platform per use case.
5 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
EPC
EPC band C deadline 2028: what UK landlords need to do now
From 2028 the proposed minimum EPC band for new tenancies in England rises to C. Existing tenancies expected to comply by 2030. Here is the upgrade roadmap and realistic costs.
9 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Section 21 vs Section 8: what UK landlords need to know in 2026
Plain-English breakdown of Section 21 and Section 8 notices in 2026, what changes under the Renters' Rights Bill, and how to use the remaining grounds while they are still available.
8 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
EICR
How long does an EICR take? What landlords should expect on the day
Realistic on-site time for an Electrical Installation Condition Report, what the engineer actually does, why a longer inspection is sometimes better, and what counts as a fail.
6 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Buy-to-let mortgage criteria 2026: what UK landlords need to qualify
Stress-test rates, ICR ratios, minimum deposits, EPC requirements and portfolio rules for buy-to-let mortgages in 2026, plus how to position a remortgage application.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Right to Rent checks for UK landlords: a 2026 step-by-step
Every landlord in England must run a Right to Rent check on every adult occupier before tenancy starts. Here is what counts as a valid check, what the digital check looks like in 2026, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
7 min read · Updated 2026-05-22
Rent increase notice template for UK landlords: Section 13 notice explained
How to raise the rent on an assured or statutory periodic tenancy in England. Step-by-step Section 13 notice guide, free template wording, and the one-increase-per-year rule.
8 min read · Updated 2026-06-04
EICR
How long does an EICR take: inspection time and certificate turnaround
EICR inspections for a typical UK rental property take two to four hours. Find out what affects the duration, how quickly you receive the certificate, and what happens if remedial work is required.
6 min read · Updated 2026-06-13
Tenancy deposit dispute process: a step-by-step guide for UK landlords
How to raise a deposit dispute with the scheme, what evidence the adjudicator needs, which deduction categories hold up and which don't, and how long the process takes.
7 min read · Updated 2026-06-20