Transparency
Rules changelog
Last updated · 22 April 2026
This page lists every change to our rule set — what we've added, what we've tightened, and what we've removed. Our rules track published UK legislation; we update them when new regulations come into force or when a landlord flags a finding that looks wrong.
How scoring works
Score = max(0, 100 − 10 × critical − 3 × warnings). Warnings carry less weight because they're usually fixable; criticals are often breaches of statute. Fine exposure is the sum of per-finding maximums, capped at £150,000.
Spotted something wrong?
Use the “Flag this finding” button on any report card. We read every flag and update the rule when we've got it wrong.
22 April 2026
Fact-check pass against gov.uk
- Renters' Rights Act 2025 section citations corrected — pet-request rights are in s 11 (inserting s 16A into Housing Act 1988); abolition of assured shortholds is in s 2 (which also ends the Section 21 route). Main commencement: 1 May 2026.
- Gas safety penalty updated to reflect HSE prosecution range — unlimited fine on indictment (up to £20,000 in magistrates' court) and up to 2 years' imprisonment.
- EPC penalty corrected to the current £5,000 cumulative per-property cap under MEES; the £30,000 figure is proposed, not yet in force.
- MEES target date updated: government has confirmed EPC C for all private rented tenancies by 1 October 2030 (SI expected in force 2027). The earlier "C from 2028 for new tenancies" line was out of date.
- Smoke & CO alarm wording broadened to reflect SI 2022/707 (in force 1 Oct 2022): CO alarms required in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers), plus the repair-on-report duty.
- Statute titles corrected to include "(England)" where applicable and cite the full SI number: AST Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/1646); Electrical Safety Standards in the PRS (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/312).
- Written-tenancy finding no longer mis-cites LTA 1985 s 1. Now cites the Housing Act 1988 framework and notes that ASTs need not be in writing, though a signed agreement underpins deposit and prescribed-information duties.
- Licensing database corrected: LS6 removed from Leeds selective scheme (Harehills is LS8/LS9); Westminster's 15-of-18-ward scheme (from 24 Nov 2025) added; Hackney borough-wide schemes correctly dated from 1 May 2026; M1 separated from M14 in Manchester.
12 April 2026
Q2 2026 rule refresh
- Renters' Rights Act 2025 provisions coming into force through 2026–27 re-checked against the gov.uk guidance notes.
- Pet-request policy wording refined — "28-day written decision" now treated as an amber warning rather than a critical failing.
- Tenant Fees Act deposit cap reaffirmed: 5 weeks' rent for annual rents under £50,000, 6 weeks' rent for £50,000+.
- Licensing coverage rechecked against the Manchester, Hackney, Leeds and Westminster council registers.
14 January 2026
Q1 2026 rule refresh
- Section 21 transition timeline added — rule does not fire until a commencement date is confirmed in law.
- EPC minimum: held at E for current tenancies; forward-looking warning on the EPC C target consultation.
- EICR: 5-year validity window re-confirmed, no change to the rule.
10 October 2025
Launch · initial rule set
- 10 topics, 47 rules covering gas, electrical, EPC, deposit protection, licensing, paperwork, and RRA readiness.
- Scoring formula: 100 − (10 × critical) − (3 × warning), floored at 0.
- Fine exposure capped at £150,000 to avoid runaway per-offence arithmetic.