Regulations you must know before letting property

Lawpack on October 20, 2026

Before letting your property, you need to make sure that it is safe, suitable for occupation and compliant with the legal requirements that apply to your type of letting.

Getting the property ready before a tenant moves in can help prevent avoidable repair costs, reduce disputes and make the property more attractive to prospective tenants. It is often easier to complete necessary repairs while the property is empty than after the tenancy has started.

The requirements vary depending on the property’s location, the type of tenancy and whether it is, for example, a house in multiple occupation (HMO). The following checklist focuses on England; landlords in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should check their respective rules.

1. Check permissions and restrictions

Before advertising the property, check your mortgage conditions, leasehold restrictions and insurance policy. Obtain any consent required to let the property.

Also check whether your proposed use or any building work requires planning permission or building regulations approval. If the property will be occupied by multiple households, check the local planning and HMO licensing rules.

2. Check whether a licence is required

In England, mandatory HMO licensing generally applies to properties occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing and selective licensing schemes may also apply, depending on the local authority.

Contact the relevant council to establish which requirements apply before granting a tenancy.

3. Ensure the property is safe and in good repair

Inspect the property before letting it. Address hazards such as serious damp and mould, inadequate heating, unsafe stairs, defective electrical installations and problems with sanitation.

Landlords must comply with applicable fitness, repairing and safety obligations throughout the tenancy, not just at the start.

4. Arrange the required gas safety checks

Where gas safety regulations apply, arrange an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer and provide the gas safety record to the tenant within the applicable deadline.

5. Check furniture and fire safety

If the property is furnished, ensure that applicable furniture fire-safety requirements are met. Check that appropriate fire precautions are in place, particularly in HMOs and shared buildings.

6. Obtain an electrical safety report

For most private rented residential properties in England, the fixed electrical installation must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, subject to the applicable rules. Give the tenant the required report and complete any necessary remedial work.

7. Check general safety

Make sure the property, its fixtures and any appliances supplied are safe. Check smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms where required, doors, windows, stairs and other features that could present a foreseeable risk.

8. Complete the required paperwork

Before the tenancy starts, check which documents and certificates you must provide. Depending on the property and tenancy, these may include an Energy Performance Certificate, gas safety record, electrical installation condition report and prescribed tenancy information.

In England, also complete the required right-to-rent checks and follow the current rules on tenancy documentation.

Keep copies of the relevant records and certificates so that you can demonstrate compliance if a question arises later.

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Which tenancy agreement do I need?

Lawpack on October 20, 2026

You’ve got your rental property and found your tenant – all you need to do is get them to sign a tenancy agreement. But which one do you need?

If you’re a landlord who thinks tenancy agreements are unnecessary, think again! A tenancy agreement is vital as it sets out the rights and obligations between you and your tenant and, as a result, protects your property and your finances. But you must use the correct tenancy agreement for the right type of tenancy concerned.

Lawpack has a wide range of tenancy agreements, including assured shorthold tenancy agreements, non-assured shorthold tenancy agreements, private residential tenancy agreements, company let tenancy agreements and lodger agreements. But which tenancy agreement should you use?

England

APT or non-APT?

When the Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026, Assured Shorthold Tenancies were abolished and most tenancies in England have become Assured Periodic Tenancies (APTs), regulated by the Housing Act 1988.

Some tenancies are exceptions, however, and you may need to use a non-Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement if any of the following applies:

  • The rent is at the rate of over £100,000 a year
  • The tenant is living in self-contained premises in the same building as you
  • The tenant is a limited company
  • The property isn’t the tenant’s main home (e.g. a weekend cottage)
  • It’s a holiday let

Find out more about non-APT tenancy agreements and which one you need to use below.

Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT)

Assuming your tenancy is an APT, slightly different forms of tenancy agreement need to be used depending on whether:

  • there is one or more tenants living in the whole flat or house, or
  • there are a number of tenants who all have separate tenancy agreements for their own room, with shared use of the rest of the property

Lawpack publishes the following APT agreements you can use:

Unfurnished Tenancy Agreement / Furnished Tenancy Agreement

You can use either of these APT agreements if you, as the landlord, don’t live at the property. Both tenancy agreements can be used for a single tenant who occupies the property on their own, or a group of tenants who jointly occupy the property and share responsibility.

If the tenants are sharing and sign this tenancy agreement as a group, it’s best if they are all family or friends as problems can arise if you’re letting to people who don’t know each other and they want to leave the property at different times.

Tenancy Agreement for a Room

It may be preferable for you to get them to sign a tenancy agreement for their individual room, which gives them shared use of the rest of the property. When giving your sharing tenants a separate tenancy agreement, it’s best to use a non-resident house share/flat share agreement.

This tenancy agreement can be used if the tenant is living in a room in the property where you, as the landlord, are not resident.

Under this APT tenancy agreement, the tenant has exclusive occupation of their designated room and will share the use and facilities of the house or flat (e.g. bathroom, toilet, kitchen and sitting room) with other occupiers of the furnished property.

Non-Assured Periodic Tenancy

In England non-Assured Periodic Tenancy agreements are also known as ‘common law’ tenancy agreements, as they are governed by underlying common law and are not regulated by the Housing Act 1988.

Lawpack has the following non-APT tenancy agreements you can use:

Contractual Tenancy Agreement (Non-Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreement)

This non-APT tenancy agreement (for England) should be used if:

  • The annual rent exceeds £100,000 a year.
  • The premises being let is self-contained accommodation in a property that has been converted from a single property to multiple units (e.g. a house converted into flats), where you (the landlord) live.
  • The property isn’t the tenant’s principal home (e.g. a weekend cottage).

This common law tenancy agreement can be used for a single tenant who occupies the property on their own, or a group of tenants who jointly occupy the property and share responsibility.

Company Let Tenancy Agreement

This Company Let Tenancy Agreement should be used if you want to let a house or flat in England to a company.

This common law tenancy agreement should be used where the tenant is a company and the occupier of the property is an employee or visitor of the company, with their family.

What if I use an APT by mistake?

If you accidentally use an APT instead of a common law tenancy agreement, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean that your tenant isn’t entitled to live in the property and doesn’t have a proper tenancy. But some parts of the tenancy agreement – those relating to the APT – will be misleading and could cause problems later down the line (e.g. you may have difficulty evicting the tenant at a later date).

Other letting agreements

Holiday Letting Agreement

This rental agreement can be used if you’re letting out a furnished property in England on a holiday let basis (e.g. for a limited period or holiday). It can be used with most types of holiday let properties (e.g. a house, apartment, flat, caravan or cottage).

The Holiday Letting Agreement is specifically excluded from the Housing Act 1988, so tenants have no security of tenure and must vacate the property at the end of the fixed term, or if found to be in breach of the terms of the Holiday Let Agreement.

Lodger Agreement

You can use this Lodger Agreement in England & Wales and Scotland when you want to rent a room in your furnished home and are happy for the lodger to share the common parts of the property (e.g. bathroom, toilet, kitchen and sitting room) with you. But this Lodger Agreement can only be used in situations where the property is your principal home.

Scotland

Private Residential Tenancy agreement (PRT)

PRTs are similar to APTs in England. You can use a Private Residential Tenancy agreement if you, as the landlord, don’t live at the property.

Lawpack has the following Scottish PRT tenancy agreements you can use:

Unfurnished Tenancy Agreement / Furnished Tenancy Agreement

Both of these PRT tenancy agreements can be used for a single tenant who occupies the property on their own, or a group of tenants who jointly occupy the property and share responsibility.

Tenancy Agreement for a Room

This tenancy agreement can be used if the tenant is living in a room in a furnished property where you, as landlord, are not resident.

Under this PRT tenancy agreement, the tenant has exclusive occupation of their designated room and will share the use and facilities of the house or flat (e.g. bathroom, toilet, kitchen and sitting room) with other occupiers of the property.

Other letting agreements

Holiday Letting Agreement

This agreement can be used if you’re letting out a furnished property in Scotland on a holiday let basis (e.g. for a limited period or holiday).

It can be used with most types of holiday let properties (e.g. a house, apartment, flat, caravan or cottage).

The Holiday Letting Agreement is specifically excluded from the Housing Act 1988, so tenants have no security of tenure and must vacate the property at the end of the fixed term, or if found to be in breach of the terms of the Holiday Let Agreement.

Lodger Agreement

You can use this Lodger Agreement when you want to rent a room in your furnished home and are happy for the lodger to share the common parts of the property (e.g. bathroom, toilet, kitchen and sitting room) with you. But this Lodger Agreement can only be used in situations where the property is your principal home.

Northern Ireland

Private Tenancy

Lawpack has a Northern Ireland Tenancy Agreement which complies with the regulations that apply to private residential tenancies in Northern Ireland.

This private tenancy agreement can be used for a single tenant who occupies the property on their own, or for a group of tenants who jointly occupy the property and share responsibility.

The terms and conditions included in this tenancy agreement meet the legal requirement in Northern Ireland that a ‘Statement of Tenancy Terms’ must be given to the tenant. Plus it includes a Property Inventory of Furnishings, which all tenancies are required to have by law in Northern Ireland.

How to serve eviction notices properly

Lawpack on October 20, 2026

How to serve an eviction notice correctly and keep proof of service

As a landlord, if you want to regain possession of your rental property, it is important to serve the correct legal notice and comply with the applicable notice period and service requirements. If you fail to do so, your possession claim may be delayed or unsuccessful.

A letter simply asking your tenant to leave by a particular date will generally not be sufficient for an assured tenancy. You must use the appropriate legal procedure and notice.

Choosing the correct eviction notice

In England, the rules for private rented tenancies changed on 1 May 2026 under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Section 21 notices are no longer available for most private landlords. A landlord seeking possession of a property let under an assured tenancy will generally need to use a Section 8 notice, relying on one or more applicable grounds for possession.

The correct notice, grounds and notice period depend on the circumstances. Always check the latest government guidance and prescribed forms before serving notice.

Checking the notice before serving it

Before serving a notice, check that:

  • You have used the correct current notice form.
  • The landlord, tenant or tenants, and property are correctly identified.
  • The grounds for possession and notice period are appropriate.
  • You have complied with any relevant requirements in the tenancy agreement and applicable legislation.

For joint tenancies, take care to identify the relevant joint tenants, including those who may have moved out but remain legally party to the tenancy.

If the tenant rents a room in a shared property, identify the room and the full property address clearly where appropriate.

Serving an eviction notice by hand

Personal delivery can be a useful way to serve notice, particularly where you anticipate a dispute about receipt.

Where possible, consider having an independent witness present or using a professional process server. Keep a copy of the notice and a contemporaneous record of the date, time, location and method of service.

Leaving a notice at the property may also be appropriate, but you must check that the method complies with the applicable service rules. Do not assume that taking a photograph of a notice left at a door will, by itself, establish valid service.

Serving an eviction notice by post

Postal service may be appropriate where permitted by the tenancy agreement and the applicable legal rules.

Obtain proof of posting and retain a copy of the notice and any relevant delivery records. Remember that proof of posting does not necessarily prove actual delivery. Whether postal service is legally effective depends on the applicable provisions, including any rules about when service is deemed to have taken place.

Recorded delivery is not automatically the best option, as a tenant may refuse to accept the item. Check the service requirements before choosing a postal method.

Serving notice on a a difficult tenant who may dispute receipt

If you anticipate that a tenant may deny receiving the notice, consider using an independent witness or a professional process server.

Ask the process server to keep a detailed record of the steps taken to serve the notice and any relevant observations. Retain this record alongside your copy of the notice and other supporting evidence.

You should also complete the appropriate certificate of service, such as Form N215 where applicable, or follow the relevant official guidance.

Important: Correct service is only one part of the possession process. If the tenant does not leave, you will generally need to obtain a court possession order and follow the lawful enforcement procedure. Do not attempt to evict the tenant yourself by changing locks or removing their belongings.

How to make sure your Will is legally valid

Jamie Ross on October 20, 2026

You can make your Will on any scrap of paper, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea! There are certain rules that you have to bear in mind when writing your Will so that it isn’t invalid. If you make a Will and it’s not legally valid, on your death your estate will be divided according to certain rules that may not be what you wanted. Take a look at this article for all the information you need about how to make sure your Will is valid.

Requirements for a legally valid Will

In a nutshell, the requirements to make a valid Will are set out below.

You must be:

  • over 18 (over 12 in Scotland); and
  • of sound mind, i.e. fully aware of the type of document being written or signed, and aware of the value of your property and the identity of the people you wish to inherit your property.

Your Will must be:

  • in writing;
  • made voluntarily without pressure from any other person; and
  • signed by you in the presence of two witnesses in England and Wales, or one witness in Scotland.

At the beginning of your Will, it should state that all previous Wills are revoked. If you do have an earlier Will, you should destroy it to prevent any confusion.

Witnesses

Your Will must be signed by you in the presence of two independent witnesses (one in Scotland). The witnesses must be over 18 (over 16 in Scotland). These could be neighbours, colleagues or friends. The witnesses need to watch you sign your Will. Then the two witnesses must each sign the Will after you. They don’t need to read its contents. A blind person can’t be a witness to a Will as they must be able to see you sign your Will. As well as their signature, your witnesses will need to add details about their name, address and occupation. If there is ever any problem with your Will in the future, your witness can testify that they watched you sign your Will. So, it is important that your witnesses can be traced.

A witness, or the spouse/civil partner of a witness, can’t be a beneficiary of your Will. This means that a witness must not stand to inherit anything from your Will. If either of these people do witness your Will, they will lose the benefit of any gifts, money or property left to them in the Will, but the Will itself will remain legally valid. This means that your intentions will not be carried out and the outcome could be very different from the one you imagined when you made your Will. It’s best that the beneficiaries aren’t even in the same room when a Will is signed and witnessed.

An executor (someone you have named in the Will to manage your estate) or their spouse can safely act as a witness to your Will – unless they are also a beneficiary, in which case another witness must be found.

As soon as the Will is signed and witnessed, it is complete. A Will remains valid even if a witness dies after the Will has been made.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, temporary changes were made to the rules for witnessing Wills. For more information see Can you make a Will by video?.

Signing your Will

If you can’t sign your Will due to a physical illness, it can be signed on your behalf; however, you must be in the same room and it should be signed on your instructions. Also, you must have the mental capacity to make the Will, otherwise it will be invalid.

Any mark that you intend to be your signature is enough for the purposes of signing your Will. Even a thumb print could be sufficient to act as a signature if you have the intention to use it as a signature. This mark still needs to be made in the presence of two independent witnesses.

Scotland

In Scotland, only one witness is needed and the maker of the Will should sign the bottom of each page. The witness should see you sign the document or hear you acknowledge your signature. The witness should sign their name on the last page of the Will and should put their full name and address and the date and place of signing. They should also add their name and address. A witness should not be a beneficiary or an executor appointed by the Will.

Date

Although your Will is legally valid even if it is not dated, it is recommended that it includes the date on which it is signed. This is to avoid any problems with implementing the instructions in your Will. It needs to be clear which is your latest Will and without a date that’s not always possible.

Amendments

You should make sure that nothing is crossed out or amended in your Will. If you want to change your Will, it’s best to make a new Will.

Also, don’t leave any blank spaces in your Will. Make sure that each page is numbered to prevent anyone tampering with it.

Service personnel – privileged Wills

The requirements for a valid Will are less stringent for service personnel on active service. These are called privileged Wills – this is an informal Will that is valid even though it doesn’t meet all the formal requirements. They can be made at short notice, for example, when you are about to put your life at risk.

A cost-effective DIY solution: Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit

For nearly 30 years, Lawpack has provided a cost-effective, DIY way of making your Will. Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit gives you the confidence and the tools to follow straightforward steps to make a valid Will without the need for legal advice.

Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit has been approved by lawyers and will provide you with all the information you need to make a valid Will. There is a step-by-step solicitor-approved Guidance manual on writing a Will and a choice of three ready-to-complete forms for use in England & Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.

This DIY Kit is a good option for those who want to write their own Will and need a bit of extra legal guidance, but can’t afford to use a lawyer to help them write their Will.

8 reasons why you should be making a Will today

Lawpack on October 20, 2026

Wills – Your Questions Answered

An at-a-glance guide to making a Will, and the risks you run if you haven’t made a Will.

1. If you don’t make a will, you cannot control who will inherit your money and property.

If you die without making a Will, your property will be distributed according to law (the law of ‘intestacy’), which is likely to be against your personal wishes and the people you want to inherit your possessions may not benefit. By making a Will, you can determine precisely who will inherit your property and let your loved ones know that you have considered their needs.

The law of intestacy is complex, but, broadly speaking, the bulk of your estate will go to your spouse (including a registered civil partner) or, if none, to your children (whether or not they are adults) and, if none, to other blood relatives.

The effect of the rules depends partly on whether you have children and your marital status. If you’re married with no children, your surviving spouse/civil partner will inherit everything.

But if you’re married with children, when you die without a Will less than you expect may go to your spouse. Your surviving spouse will receive £250,000, plus your personal belongings, and then half of the estate automatically. Your children will then inherit the remaining half share of the estate (or on trust until they reach the age of 18).

So it’s always prudent to have a valid will rather than rely on the intestacy rules.

Find out the laws on intestacy here.

2. If you’re not married and haven’t made a Will, your partner may receive nothing.

If you’re not married but are living with your partner and you want them to inherit your estate, it’s particularly important that you make a will. This is because the rules of intestacy make no provision for cohabitation or unmarried partners (other than registered civil partners). If you died without making a Will, your partner may not be legally entitled to anything from your estate.

Find out about the cohabitation risk you take if you’re part of an unmarried couple and haven’t made a will.

3. By making a Will you can determine who will handle your affairs after your death.

If you die without making a Will, you die ‘intestate’. This means that the management of your affairs is then placed in the hands of administrators who are appointed by the court. The administrators distribute your estate according to the rules of intestacy (see above).

4. By making a Will you can name a guardian for your children.

If you have minor children, you can name a guardian to care for them in the event of them being left without any parents. Since a guardian takes the place of a parent, making a will gives you the option of choosing someone you believe will offer the best care for your children if you’re not around.

5. It’s important to make a new Will if you get married or divorced.

Once you have made your Will, changes to your circumstances (e.g. marriage, separation, divorce, having a child or moving house) can make parts of the Will invalid or unfair and open to a successful claim under the Inheritance Act. You should, therefore, review your Will regularly to reflect any major life changes, preferably every five years.

Find out why you should make a Will if you’re getting divorced.

6. You can save Inheritance Tax.

Making a Will gives you the opportunity of saving Inheritance Tax liability. This is particularly important if you have substantial assets.

Find out more about Inheritance Tax here.

7. You must check your Will regularly.

It’s also possible to die partially intestate. This occurs if you fail to deal with all of your property in your Will or if a particular someone who was due to inherit in your Will dies before you or if you divorce and your ex-spouse’s legacy becomes invalid as a result. It’s therefore important to keep your Will up to date.

Is it time you updated your Will? You can make a Will with Lawpack today.

8. You can express your preferences for what happens after your death.

By making a will, you can express your preferences for burial or cremation and for donating organs or your entire body for medical purposes.

You can find out more about how you can protect your loved ones by making a Will here, or you can stop worrying and make a Will today here.

Write Your Will with Lawpack:

 

Other information

How to protect your children by making a Will

Lawpack on October 20, 2026

As a parent, you don’t want to think about anything happening to you while your children are young. But it’s important that you do consider what would happen to your children if you died. You want to make sure that your children are protected and that your wishes will be carried out. If you don’t have a Will, the intestacy rules apply. But, why leave it to chance? It’s easy to make a Will and you can guarantee peace of mind for your family. Read on for all you need to know about protecting your children after your death.

Appoint a legal guardian

In your Will you can appoint guardians who will look after your children in the unlikely event that both you and the other parent (usually your spouse or partner) die while your children are under 18. Guardians are usually appointed to look after children in the event of the parents’ death, but it’s not a requirement of them being a guardian, as their task is to make decisions about where the children live, with whom, and what school they go to, etc. Guardianship only happens if all those with parental responsibility have died. If no one is named by the parents, then the local authority will decide who will look after your children. They may appoint immediate family, but not necessarily, and this may not be what you want. Although the courts can make a guardianship order, it can be expensive and upsetting for the family.

Think carefully about who will make the best guardians for your children. The main thing is to act in your children’s best interests. Consider where the potential guardians live, their religious and ethical beliefs, their relationship with your child and whether they want to take on the responsibility of raising a child. Make sure you ask them whether they are willing to be guardians before you nominate them! How old are the potential guardians? If they are older, such as your parents, will they be able to cope with looking after your children until the age of 18. If the potential guardians have children of their own, then where will everyone live? If the guardians live outside the UK there could be issues – do you want your children to have to move countries?

Make sure you appoint more than one guardian, or at least a substitute guardian in case the first one is not willing to act.

To make a valid nomination for a guardian, the requirements are very similar to when you make a Will. The nomination must be in writing and signed in the presence of two witnesses.

Guardianship for a child ends automatically when the child reaches 18.

For further information about naming guardians, see How to name guardians for your children.

Provide for stepchildren

If you have stepchildren, be mindful of making a gift to ‘my children’ as this will not include any stepchildren. You need to explicitly state in your Will if you want your stepchildren to inherit anything. Legally adopted children will be included in any gift to ‘children’. Stepchildren will inherit nothing from you under the intestacy rules.

Rules for trusts, pensions and insurance

Life insurance policies, pension schemes or other assets held in trust won’t pass under your Will. If you do want your children to inherit these, then you need to contact each provider individually and nominate your children as beneficiaries.

What age should your children inherit?

After your death, children will automatically inherit any assets you’ve left them in your Will when they reach 18 (in Scotland, it’s 17). You might not think this is a suitable age for your child to inherit. Children can benefit before this age, but the assets will be held in a trust and managed by a trustee for the child’s benefit. A child could receive an allowance from a cash fund, but will not be able to withdraw money without the trustee’s consent.

You can change the age that your child inherits, you might think 21 or 25 is a more suitable age. Be specific in any Will you write.

Children from a previous relationship

If you’re not married or in a civil partnership with your partner and you have children from a previous relationship, you should consider how you will provide for all the members of your family. In this scenario, if you don’t have a Will, all your assets will be inherited by your children. This means that a new partner will get nothing! Think carefully about whether this is what you want to happen. The best way to avoid this is to make a Will.

If you are married or in a civil partnership with a new partner, but you have children from a previous relationship and you have no Will, on your death your spouse will inherit the first £270,000 from your estate. This may leave your children with little or no inheritance. The best way to avoid this is to make a Will.

Divorced and separated parents

If you’re divorced or separated and you have children, the surviving parent still has parental responsibility, so any guardianship that you nominate will not take effect unless everyone with parental responsibility has died.

Appoint trustees

If you have children and you die before the age your children can inherit, any assets you wish your children to inherit will be held in trust, so you will need to appoint a trustee in your Will to manage the trust. In Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit the executors are the same people as the trustees. Trustees are different from any guardians you nominate and are not responsible for bringing your children up; instead, they are responsible for managing any trust for your children.

Think about who is the best person to safeguard your children’s financial interests. You can appoint your child’s surviving parent as one of the trustees with one or two further trustees, or substitute trustees in case both parents pass away. Don’t choose only one trustee. What if that person isn’t available to act? There are rules about who would be appointed, but that might not fit with your wishes.

Family and close friends often make good trustees. They can obtain advice from solicitors and accountants, so they don’t need to be professionals themselves. It does help if they’re good with paperwork and are financially aware. It’s also important that they get on with your children and any guardians that you’ve appointed. Guardians ask trustees for money for your children’s needs, and trustees will decide whether to release funds and the amount.

A letter of wishes can give your trustees and guardians an idea of your views about your children’s future welfare and upbringing. It is a private document that should be stored with the Will; however, don’t attach it to your Will in case it risks invalidating the Will. It’s not legally binding on your trustees and guardians, but it could provide them with some guidance. Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Premium Kit includes a template letter of wishes.

When should the trust make a payout?

It’s useful to give some guidance to your trustees in a separate letter of wishes about how you would like your money to be controlled. Do you want your children to receive everything as soon as they are 18? Would you like to provide an income for them? What about setting aside assets to be used for specific purposes – education, your child’s first home?

Schedule a review

Things change. Make sure you keep your Will up to date. As a benchmark, review it every five years. Specifically consider whether the people you nominated as guardians and trustees for your children are still suitable.

Make a new Will if you marry or enter a civil partnership as your Will is automatically revoked when you marry or enter a civil partnership.

A cost-effective DIY solution: Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit

For more than 30 years, Lawpack has proved you can write your own Will without it being expensive. Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit gives you the confidence and the tools to follow straightforward steps to make a valid Will without the need for legal advice.

Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit has been approved by a solicitor and will provide you with all the information you need to make a valid Will. There is a step-by-step solicitor-approved Guidance manual on writing a Will and a choice of three ready-to-complete forms for use in England & Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.

This DIY Kit is a good option for those who want to write their own Will and need a bit of extra legal guidance, but can’t afford to use a lawyer to help them write their Will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to make money from your home

Lawpack on October 13, 2026

Top tips on how to boost your income without incurring any extra costs

With the economy struggling and unemployment rising, finding ways to make money has never been more important to the thousands of homeowners with mortgage payments to make each month.

But there are ways for you to make money without even leaving your home.

Rent a room to a lodger

Under the government’s rent-a-room scheme, you can earn up to £7,500 (2026/27 figure) a year tax-free if you get a lodger, as long as you provide them with a furnished room. (If you share the income with a partner or co-owner, the figure is £3,750 per person.)

However, if you do not want a long-term lodger, consider a short-term homestay instead. Language schools, for example, are often looking for places for exchange students to reside.

Use Lawpack’s Lodger Agreement to get everything in writing

Rent out your drive or parking space

A Parking Space Let Agreement could be a great money-spinning tool. Renting out space on your driveway is a great way to make use of the extra space.

Rent out your garage

Research consistently shows that most people do not use their garage for housing a vehicle. Instead, homeowners use their garage as a dumping ground for junk. Clear out this rubbish, get a Garage Let Agreement and find someone who needs the space.

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Updates & Downloads

Lawpack on March 27, 2026

Dear Customer,

Thank you for purchasing our paper products.

Updates & Downloads for our paper DIY Kits

To access the downloadable forms and legal updates relevant to the paper DIY Kit you have purchased, please click on the appropriate product link below and then click on the grey tab ‘Updates & Downloads’ (underneath the product image):

Remember! Once you have clicked on the appropriate page you must enter your product registration code in the activation box provided to access your downloads.

Where can I find my product registration code?

Generally this can be found in the ‘How to Use This Kit’ section at the front of your Guidance Manual, in a grey box.

Free Downloads given away with our paper Form Packs

To access the free downloads given away with our paper Form Packs, please click on the appropriate link below and then enter your product registration code in the activation box provided. Please note that downloads do not include electronic versions of the paper documents included in the Form Pack  –  the downloads are complementary documents.

Our Form Pack range

For all England and Wales Form Packs where the registration code starts with F4…

For all Scotland Form Packs where the registration code starts with SF4…

Our Essential range

For all England and Wales Forms Packs where the registration code starts with F3… or F1…

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Where can I find my product registration code?

Generally this can be found printed in the guidance manual or on a slip of paper inside the form pack wallet.

Is our DIY Will Kit right for you in 2026?

Jamie Ross on January 19, 2024

Writing a Will is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. It ensures your wishes are followed after your death and protects your family by making sure they are provided for. But, even though you know you should make a Will, so many people don’t. A report in 2023 found that a huge 56% of adults in the UK don’t have a Will. Perhaps you’re one of them and are worried that it will be really expensive to make one. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis it’s not surprising that many of us think that making a Will is something that can be shelved for another day. But, writing a Will doesn’t have to be expensive. In theory, you could make a Will on any piece of paper as long as it’s properly signed and is witnessed by two adult independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries. If you do this then it will probably be legally valid. However, this might feel as if it’s leaving too much to chance. There are certain phrases and terms that lawyers write into most Wills as standard. That’s because they work and take away the possibility of misinterpretation.

The good news is that you can use a template Will that has standard sections and terms already set out in it to make a legally valid Will. If you use a Will template, this means that it’s less likely that you will make a mistake, as long as you follow the guidance notes supplied. They’re a cost-effective solution if your situation is fairly simple.

Worried that a DIY Will won’t suit you? Answer the seven simple questions below to decide.

Q1 Do you have your permanent home in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Yes – go to Q2.

No – This Will Kit is not suitable for you because you are not domiciled (ie, you don’t have your permanent home) in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The law differs between different countries, so you will need to take international legal advice.

Q2 Are you of sound mind*?

Yes – go to Q3.

No – This Will Kit may not be suitable for you. If you have a history of mental disorder or an illness may be affecting your judgement, you should consult a qualified doctor just before preparing your Will. This will help establish whether you are able to make a Will.

* ‘Sound mind’ means that you understand the type of document being written or signed, and are aware of the value of your property and the identity of the people you wish to inherit your property.

Q3 Are you over 18 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or over 12 in Scotland?

Yes – go to Q4.

No – If you are under the legal age, you can’t make a Will. The exception is that if you are under 18 and in active service with the armed forces in war, or at sea as a seaman, you can make a Will.

Q4 Do you have more than £325,000 worth of assets*?

Yes – This Will Kit is suitable for you, but it only provides a simple outline of Inheritance Tax planning.

No – go to Q5.

* This figure is the current amount of assets that is free from Inheritance Tax. This figure will remain the same until April 2026. It includes your property, personal possessions, cash, savings and investments. Note that some insurance policies can’t be left in your Will. You need to check with your insurance provider whether this applies to you. Consider whether your insurance policy is written in trust in which case it doesn’t pass under your Will and isn’t included for Inheritance Tax purposes. Sometimes your pension rights can’t be included in your Will so you should check with your pension provider. If you own a property as a joint tenant rather than a tenant in common (you can check with the solicitor who did the conveyancing), then your share of that property will automatically pass to the other owner when you die and won’t be included in your Will.

Q5 Do you have a property abroad*?

Yes – This Will Kit is suitable for you, but it is possible that the property that is situated abroad may not be included in your Will. We recommend that you take international legal advice about your foreign property.

No – go to Q6.

* If you live in England and own a property in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the property is considered to be foreign property because it is in a different legal jurisdiction. The same applies if you live in Scotland and own a property in England or Northern Ireland, this property is considered to be foreign property because it is in a different legal jurisdiction. Therefore, you need to take legal advice in the country where the property is situated. 

Q6 Do you own a business or share in a business?

Yes – This Kit may be suitable for you, but there may be extra complications that you need to be aware of.

If you run a business on your own (sole proprietor) and you want the business to continue after your death or to pass to one of your beneficiaries, then this Kit is not suitable for you and you should take legal advice.

If you are part of a partnership, this Will Kit may be suitable for you, but there may be complications depending on whether you have a partnership deed or not and whether the partnership can pass under your Will. You should make sure you have checked this before you make your Will.

If you own all or part of a private company, there may be restrictions on who you can transfer shares to. You should make sure you have checked this before you make your Will. 

If you own shares in a public company (Plc), then there is no restriction on who you transfer share to and this Kit will be suitable for you. 

No – See Q7.

Q7 Are you married or in a civil partnership?

Yes – This Kit is suitable for you.

No – This Kit is suitable for you. It is very important that you make a Will if you are living with someone, as this person may get nothing from your estate if you die without having made a Will. If you have children and you are unmarried you should take legal advice about getting parental responsibility* before you make your Will.

* An unmarried father does not automatically have parental responsibility (the ability to make decisions about their child’s welfare) unless the child was born after 1 December 2003 and the father is named on the birth certificate.

The unmarried mother automatically has parental responsibility. The appointment of a guardian in your Will is only effective after both parents with parental responsibility die. So if the father does not have parental responsibility, it is possible for a mother to name someone in their Will other than the father to be the child’s guardian.

A cost-effective DIY solution: Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit

For more than 30 years, Lawpack has proved you can write your own Will without it being expensive. Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit gives you the confidence and the tools to follow straightforward steps to make a valid Will without the need for legal advice.

Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit has been approved by a solicitor and will provide you with all the information you need to make a valid Will. There is a step-by-step solicitor-approved Guidance manual on writing a Will and a choice of three ready-to-complete forms for use in England & Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland. 

This DIY Kit is a good option for those who want to write their own Will and need a bit of extra legal guidance, but can’t afford to use a lawyer to help them write their Will.

Top tips for Inheritance Tax planning in 2024

Jamie Ross on January 19, 2024

Give yourself a new year’s gift of peace of mind in 2024 by sorting out your Inheritance Tax planning for your family’s future. 

Writing a Will is one of the most important financial decisions you can make and is an essential part of Inheritance Tax planning. But there are other ways you can reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax on your estate. Read on for our easy-to-follow top tips that you can implement easily while you are still alive!

What is Inheritance Tax?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is tax payable on your estate after you die. Simply put, your estate is made up of your property, possessions and money after household bills, mortgages, credit card debts and funeral expenses have been deducted. 

IHT is payable on the worldwide assets of UK-domiciled people and the UK assets of a foreign national. So, if you’re a UK citizen and have a holiday home abroad that holiday home will still count as part of your estate for IHT. 

If all your estate is left to your surviving spouse/civil partner, no IHT is paid.

What’s the nil-rate band?

In a nutshell, the nil-rate band is the amount of your estate that can be transferred tax free to your beneficiaries. In 2024, this tax-free amount is £325,000. Average house prices are at around £285,000 in the UK in 2023 and IHT is payable on estates above £325,000. If you’re married or in a civil partnership you and your spouse have a combined nil-rate band of £650,000. IHT is charged at 40%, but it is only charged on the part of your estate that’s above the tax-free threshold. This tax-free amount of £325,000 is set until April 2028. 

There is another nil-rate band which applies to residential property. For the 2023/24 tax year, the main residence nil-rate band individual allowance is £175,000. So, that’s an additional £175,000 on top of the nil-rate band of £325,000. To qualify for this residence nil-rate band, your main residence must be passed down to a direct descendant such as a child, grandchild, great-grandchild or spouse/civil partner of a child or grandchild. 

Taking all of this into account, you could essentially have a tax-free allowance of £500,000. So, a couple could potentially have a nil-rate band (which includes the residence nil-rate band) of up to £1,000,000!

The full amount of the residence nil-rate band might not be available because you’ve downsized before your death. But there is a special provision which allows for the residence nil-rate band to still be available even if you ‘downsize’ to move into a home with a lower value and free up cash. To qualify, the former home must have qualified for the residence nil-rate band and the new property must be left to your direct descendants.

If your estate is under the IHT threshold (£325,000), i.e. you still have some nil-rate band left, then this unused portion can go to your surviving spouse’s future estate and it will increase their nil-rate band in the future, which could be useful for planning any future gifts to children.

Do you own a property?

For most families, their biggest asset will be the family home. There are two ways to co-own property. The first is a joint tenancy. This means that if one partner dies then the other one automatically becomes the sole owner of the property and no IHT is payable.

The other way to own property is to be a tenant in common. In this case each partner owns a separate share of the property. So, if one partner dies then their share will pass under their estate according to the instructions in their Will rather than automatically going to the other partner. This means that IHT is potentially payable. 

How can I reduce my IHT bill?

There are some ways that you can reduce the IHT bill that your beneficiaries will face and these are not just strategies to put in your Will, they are strategies you can use today. 

One of the easiest ways to reduce a potential IHT bill is to think about giving away some of your money to your beneficiaries now. There are six ways to do this: 

  • Annual gifts 
  • Small gifts 
  • Wedding gifts
  • Gifts to charity
  • Gifts from income
  • Lifetime gifts

Let’s have a closer look at these.

Annual gifts

You have an annual allowance of £3,000 per annum which you can transfer to your loved ones without having to pay any tax. So, you could use this exemption to pass money to your descendants in small quantities over a period of time to avoid IHT. You can also use your exemption from the last tax year if you did not use it then, so you may be able to give away up to £6,000 tax free.

Small gifts

You can give away as many gifts as you like tax free up to the value of £250, as long as they’re not to all to the same person. 

Wedding gifts

You can make tax-free gifts if a close relative or friend is getting married. The gift must be made before the wedding and the wedding actually has to take place. You can give up to £5,000 to a child; up to £2,500 to a grandchild/great grandchild; and up to £1,000 to anyone else.

Gifts to charity

Any gift to charity that is made in your lifetime or under your Will is exempt from IHT. Also, there is a special provision that if 10% of the total estate is left to charity a lower rate of 36% on the balance for the taxable part of the estate is applied.

Gifts from income

As long as you have surplus income you can make gifts to beneficiaries out of your income. These gifts must be regular and come out of your income (not capital) and not diminish your standard of living. 

You could also potentially give gifts to help with family maintenance. These could be gifts to help relatives with their living costs if they are financially dependent on you such as a child under 18 or in full-time education, an elderly family member who needs financial assistance or even a former spouse. 

Lifetime gifts

These gifts can be of any value but you must survive for seven years from the time that you give the gift. These gifts are called potentially exempt transfers (PETs). If you don’t survive for seven years then these gifts will be included as part of your estate and IHT may be payable. However, if you die within three to seven years there is some tax relief available called tapering relief.

If you gave a gift during your lifetime but you continued to benefit from the gifted property (gifts with reservation of benefit) then these gifts will be liable to IHT. For example, you give someone your house but you continue living in it.

Businesses and IHT

It is possible that your estate may qualify for Business Relief (BR) if your estate includes a business or business assets. This means your estate pays no IHT on businesses, interests in businesses or shares in unlisted companies. You can potentially get Business Relief of either 50% or 100% on some of your estate’s business assets. 

Life insurance to pay IHT

Having a life insurance policy could help make it easier on your family when it comes to sorting out paying any IHT. It can help protect your home and other assets from having to be sold to pay an IHT bill, which must usually be paid before probate is granted. Most life insurance policies will count as part of the estate unless your policy is written ‘in trust’ which can be done at no extra cost when taking out your policy.  If a policy is ‘in trust’ any money is paid out directly to your beneficiaries and will not form part of your estate. So any payout will be tax free which means your beneficiaries will get their money much more quickly.  A whole of life insurance policy is often used for this purpose.

A term insurance policy could also be used to pay IHT and can be used to protect a situation where you give a lifetime gift to loved ones, but there’s a risk that if you were to die within seven years your beneficiaries could be faced with a large tax bill. This bill could fall on the person who received the gift rather than the estate. A term life insurance policy could provide a lump sum payment on death to match any IHT liability on a PET over the nil-rate band for IHT. This type of policy will last a set amount of time and only pays out if you die within the stated period otherwise the policy will expire. 

A cost-effective DIY solution: Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit

For nearly 20 years, Lawpack has proved you can write your own Will without it being expensive. Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit gives you the confidence and the tools to follow straightforward steps to make a valid Will without the need for legal advice.

Lawpack’s Last Will & Testament Kit has been approved by a solicitor and will provide you with all the information you need to make a valid Will. There is a step-by-step solicitor-approved Guidance manual on writing a Will and a choice of three ready-to-complete forms for use in England & Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland. 

This DIY Kit is a good option for those who want to write their own Will and need a bit of extra legal guidance, but can’t afford to use a lawyer to help them write their Will.