About HouseFile

Why we built it

Renting out property in the UK means juggling a growing pile of legal obligations: gas safety certificates, EPCs, electrical reports, and the right documents given to the right tenant at the right time. You also need to be able to prove you did it. Get any of it wrong and you risk fines, invalid eviction notices, or losing a case at tribunal.

HouseFile started as a landlord's own frustration with managing this across multiple properties. Spreadsheets and email threads don't cut it when a tenant's solicitor asks you to prove a certificate was served two years ago. So we built one place to store every compliance document, share it with tenants through a single link, and keep a timestamped record of exactly when they viewed it.

Who's behind HouseFile

HouseFile is built and run by Antoine Helsen, a UK landlord who manages a portfolio of rental properties and deals with the same compliance requirements we write about. So HouseFile is shaped by someone who has to follow the same rules, and by feedback from other landlords who use it every day.

Our commitment to accuracy

The guidance on this site covers legal obligations that carry real financial and legal consequences, so we take accuracy seriously. We check our articles against primary sources: UK legislation and official gov.uk landlord guidance. We update them as the law changes, including the major reforms brought in by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

That said, HouseFile provides general information, not legal advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a solicitor or your local authority.

What HouseFile does

• Stores all your compliance documents in one place, per property
• Gives tenants one secure link to access their documents
• Records exactly when a tenant viewed each document, so you have proof of delivery
• Tracks expiry dates and reminds you before certificates lapse
• Links expire automatically at the end of a tenancy