First-time landlord, one flat in Manchester

Why it matters

Most first-time landlords are not non-compliant on purpose — they simply cannot prove what they did or when. Evidence, not intention, is what gets tested.

Practical guidance

• Set every certificate expiry on the day you upload it.
• Send the statutory pack as one dated bundle rather than piecemeal emails.
• Replace fixed-term templates with rolling periodic agreements.

The situation

One two-bed flat, a first tenancy, and a folder containing an EPC, a gas safety record and an electrical report. Nothing was dated as served, the tenancy agreement was a generic download that still referred to a fixed term, and there was no reminder system for renewals.

What changed

The property was set up with its address, rent and tenancy start date. Each certificate was uploaded with its expiry, and the whole statutory pack was sent to the tenant in one click by email, generating a timestamped record of what was served and when. The agreement was replaced with a rolling periodic version reflecting the Renters'' Rights Act 2025.

The result

Renewal reminders now fire well before each expiry, the tenant has a permanent portal for their documents, and the landlord can produce a dated evidence pack in under a minute if a dispute ever arises.