18 April 2026 · 5 min read
Short-Let Compliance: A Practical UK Checklist
Compliance is the least glamorous part of short-letting and the part that causes the most trouble when it is missed. This is the baseline we work through during onboarding.
The core documents
A valid gas safety certificate where gas is present, an Electrical Installation Condition Report, PAT testing on portable appliances, interlinked smoke alarms on every storey, a carbon monoxide alarm where required, and a written fire risk assessment with a clear escape route.
Furniture should meet fire safety regulations, and a fire blanket and extinguisher in the kitchen are sensible even where not strictly mandated.
Insurance, permissions and local rules
Standard landlord insurance rarely covers short-let use. You need a policy written for holiday-let or serviced accommodation, with public liability cover.
Check your lease, mortgage terms and any freeholder restrictions, and confirm current local requirements — planning and registration rules for short-term lets continue to evolve across the UK.