Guaranteed Rent and Property Compliance: What Landlords Need to Know

Guaranteed Rent and Property Compliance: What Landlords Need to Know

Renting out property comes with responsibilities and when you're working with a guaranteed rent provider or planning to rent your property to the council, it's vital to understand what those are.

At Apex, we help landlords meet the required standards without the guesswork. Here’s what’s expected, who’s responsible, and how we support landlords to stay compliant.

Rent My Property to the Council - What Are the Rules?

If you’re considering renting your property to the council, either directly or through a guaranteed rent company like Apex, there are clear compliance obligations. These aren't just box-ticking exercises. They protect tenants, reduce risk for landlords, and ensure you're eligible to enter a local authority scheme in the first place.

The Key Compliance Checklist

Gas Safety Certificate

• Required: Annually

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: Apex can arrange this on your behalf using qualified engineers. It’s a basic legal requirement to rent out any property.

EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)

• Required: Every 5 years (or sooner if stated by the electrician)

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: Apex can coordinate inspections and provide reminders when due.

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

• Required: Every 10 years

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: It is illegal to rent a property with a rating below E. Apex only accepts properties rated D or above, and landlords should be planning for the government’s expected legal minimum of C.

Fire Risk Assessment

• Required:

  • For all HMOs

  • For any property being rented to the council or through Apex

• Frequency: Annually

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: Not currently required for single ASTs in the private market, but increasingly expected across the board. Apex can organise this with qualified assessors.

Selective Licensing

• Required: In certain boroughs, and growing. Legislation changed in 2025 giving councils more freedom to implement licensing rules.

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: Apex stays up to date with borough-specific requirements and can advise and assist with the application process.

Landlord Insurance

• Required: Yes, proof must be provided at the start of the tenancy and whenever the insurance is renewed.

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: This is a requirement for working with councils and Apex and is a basic expectation for any responsible landlord.

Minimum Room Sizes

• Standards:

  • Under 4.63m² = not a legal bedroom

  • 4.64m² = one child under 10

  • 6.5m² to 10.21m² = one person over 10

  • 10.22m² = two people

  • Living rooms = minimum 11m²

  • Open-plan kitchen/living = minimum 18m²

• Responsibility: Landlord

Awaab’s Law (Damp, Mould & Condensation)

• Responsibility: Landlord

• Notes: There are now strict timeframes for acknowledging and resolving damp and mould complaints. Read our dedicated post on Awaab’s Law here. Apex has internal systems in place to ensure action is taken on time and properly documented.

Why It Matters with Guaranteed Rent

Guaranteed rent agreements don’t remove the need for compliance, but they make managing it easier. At Apex, we remind landlords when things are due, help facilitate inspections and certificates, and step in if urgent works are needed. When problems are left unchecked, it’s not just the tenant that suffers...landlords can lose income, face fines, or risk removal from council panels.

For us, maintaining compliance isn’t just a legal formality. It’s how we protect the landlords we work with, meet our obligations to councils, and continue to offer secure, long-term guaranteed rent arrangements.

Thinking About Guaranteed Rent? Let’s Talk

Apex is one of London’s most established guaranteed rent companies, backed by private equity and trusted by multiple boroughs.

If you're considering letting your property to the council, and want to do it through a provider that understands compliance, protects your asset, and pays you rent every month without fail, get in touch.

📞 0203 030 4241

lettings@apexhousingsolutions.co.uk