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, the right documents served to the right tenant at the right time — and, crucially, being 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. It's not a faceless software company — it's a tool built by someone who has to stay compliant too, and refined with feedback from other landlords using it day to 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. Our articles are written and reviewed against primary sources — UK legislation and official gov.uk landlord guidance — and are reviewed and updated as the law changes, including the significant reforms introduced 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 — proof of delivery
• Tracks expiry dates and reminds you before certificates lapse
• Links expire automatically at the end of a tenancy