Renting without a tenancy agreement

[pleaseholdyourcallisimportant]

If somebody decides to rent from a friend (friend doesn't live there but another friend shares the house) is a tenancy agreement needed? What are the tenants rights if they don't have an agreement? Also, if no agreement does the LL still have to legally provide gas and electric safety certificates (and any others that I don't know of).

In short does the LL still have legal obligations even though nothing is in writing with the tenant?

I don't know the LL. It is the tenant I am concerned about.

Clearly a clueless landlord. If there are gas appliances then it is an obvious risk not to have a gas safe cert, which is why it is a legal requirement. Homeowners don't bother but they know the history of their place.

Your tenant should buy his own insurance for his possessions, as all tenants should.