Prove your tenants received their documents
Email attachments won't hold up at tribunal. HouseFile records the moment a tenant opens each document, and exports it as evidence.
14 days free · no card needed
Antoine Helsen, founder
A landlord in Reading. Proof, not paperwork.
14 Maple Street
Sarah Johnson · tenancy started 14 Aug
See HouseFile in action
Everything a UK landlord needs to stay compliant — and to prove it — in one place.
All properties compliant
Every required document is in place, valid, and shared. Nothing needs your attention.
Needs attention
View calendarDashboard
Every property’s compliance, at a glance
One score tells you if anything needs attention across your whole portfolio — expiring certificates, missing documents, tenants who haven’t confirmed receipt. No spreadsheet to keep up to date.
Documents
One organised folder per property
Every legal document in its place, with expiry dates tracked and renewal reminders built in. Drop a fresh certificate on an expired one and HouseFile reads the new expiry for you.
Compliance Report
Document Delivery & Acknowledgment Record
Proof, not paperwork.
Sunnyside House
42 Meadow Lane, Bristol
| Document | Status |
|---|---|
| Deposit Protection Certificate | Valid |
| Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) | Valid |
| Electrical Report (EICR) | Valid |
| Energy Performance Certificate | Valid |
| Carbon Monoxide Alarm Statement | Valid |
| Smoke Alarm Statement | Valid |
Proof of delivery
Export court-ready evidence in one click
A timestamped record of every document served and acknowledged — the contemporaneous evidence a tribunal looks for. Since Section 21 was abolished, this is what possession claims run on.
The problem
If a tenant disputes receipt, can you prove it?
You are legally required to give every tenant seven documents — the EPC, the gas safety certificate, the electrical report, the information sheet, the deposit protection details, the Right to Rent check and the tenancy agreement. Miss one and the fine is up to £40,000; a Right to Rent failure is up to £20,000 per illegal occupier. In any dispute, the burden of proof is on you.
An email attachment doesn’t prove the tenant opened it, and a shared Drive folder only shows that a link was clicked. HouseFile records the moment each document is viewed and acknowledged, and exports that record as a PDF a tribunal will accept.
Smart filing
Photograph it. HouseFile files it.
Take a photo of any certificate — even a crumpled paper one from the gas engineer. HouseFile reads it, gives it the right name, slots it into your compliance checklist, and books the renewal reminder.
Photos, scans, and PDFs all work. No typing, no renaming files, no expiry dates to look up.
IMG_4231.jpg
A photo of the paper certificate
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
Filed under Legal Requirements
Renewal reminder: 2 Jul 2027Why I built HouseFile
The property landscape has changed these last few years. Tighter rules and regulations mean landlords have to run things more professionally — and the burden of proof sits squarely with us.
Every landlord I spoke to could show me their documents. Almost none of them could prove their tenant had actually received them — and when a deposit dispute or a Section 8 claim goes wrong, that's the exact question it turns on.
Email attachments, WhatsApp messages, a paper pack handed over at check-in: none of it holds up. That's why I built HouseFile — one place where you can be sure you hold every required document, and prove your tenants received them, with a timestamped acknowledgment you can hand to a tribunal.
It's a small product, deliberately. It does the proof part properly instead of doing everything badly.
Antoine
Founder, HouseFile
Questions? Email support@housefile.app — replies come to me, and I read every one.
The moment it pays off: acknowledged, timestamped, provable.
Less than the cost of one missed compliance document.
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose the plan that fits your portfolio size.
Essential
1-3 properties
£4.99/month
- Up to 3 properties
- Store all your compliance documents
- One link for tenants to access all documents
- Links expire automatically at tenancy end
14-day free trial included
HMO friendly pricing: We charge per property, not per room. A 6-bed HMO costs the same as a studio flat — unlike most property software.
More than 25 properties? We offer custom pricing for larger landlord portfolios. Get in touch for a quote.
Relevant UK Legislation — click to expand
Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012
EPC must be provided free of charge to tenants. Fines up to £5,000 for non-compliance.
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Gas safety record must be given to tenants within 28 days of the annual check.
Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020
EICR must be provided before tenancy starts and after each inspection.
Housing Act 2004
Deposit protection and prescribed information requirements.
Immigration Act 2014 (Right to Rent)
Landlords must verify tenants have the right to rent in the UK before tenancy starts. Fines up to £20,000 per occupier.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Tenants must receive a copy of the tenancy agreement. Terms must be fair and transparent.
Renters' Rights Act 2025: The new legislation maintains all document requirements and introduces additional protections for tenants. Landlords who cannot prove compliance may face increased penalties and weaker positions in disputes.
This is general information, not legal advice. Always consult current legislation or a solicitor for your specific situation.