Circle Doors

Missed deadlines, not ignored rules, cause most landlord compliance problems. See what's due and when, who's responsible and what evidence to keep, plus a month-by-month calendar and free checklist.

Deposit protection feels like a box-ticking exercise — until it isn't. Get it wrong and a tenant can take you to court for up to three times the deposit on top of returning it in full, and in 2026 a badly protected deposit can also stand between you and a valid Section 8 notice. Most landlords who fall foul of the rules don't do it deliberately — they miss a deadline, use the wrong template, or forget to re-protect after a tenancy rolls over. Here are the mistakes to watch for.

Your EICR isn't optional — and in 2026, the stakes just got higher. Fines now reach £40,000, and a missing certificate can block you from regaining possession of your property. This guide covers everything UK landlords need to know: what an EICR is, how often you need one, how to read the C1, C2 and C3 codes, and exactly what to do if your report comes back unsatisfactory.