diff --git a/almanach/hacking/__init__.py b/almanach/hacking/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/almanach/hacking/checks.py b/almanach/hacking/checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81b0334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/almanach/hacking/checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# Copyright 2017 FUJITSU LIMITED
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+import re
+
+assert_no_xrange_re = re.compile(r"\s*xrange\s*\(")
+assert_True = re.compile(r".*assertEqual\(True, .*\)")
+assert_None = re.compile(r".*assertEqual\(None, .*\)")
+assert_Not_Equal = re.compile(r".*assertNotEqual\(None, .*\)")
+assert_Is_Not = re.compile(r".*assertIsNot\(None, .*\)")
+assert_raises_regexp = re.compile(r"assertRaisesRegexp\(")
+no_log_warn = re.compile(r".*LOG.warn\(.*\)")
+mutable_default_args = re.compile(r"^\s*def .+\((.+=\{\}|.+=\[\])")
+
+
+def no_mutable_default_args(logical_line):
+    msg = "M001: Method's default argument shouldn't be mutable!"
+    if mutable_default_args.match(logical_line):
+        yield (0, msg)
+
+
+def no_xrange(logical_line):
+    if assert_no_xrange_re.match(logical_line):
+        yield (0, "M002: Do not use xrange().")
+
+
+def validate_assertTrue(logical_line):
+    if re.match(assert_True, logical_line):
+        msg = ("M003: Unit tests should use assertTrue(value) instead"
+               " of using assertEqual(True, value).")
+        yield (0, msg)
+
+
+def validate_assertIsNone(logical_line):
+    if re.match(assert_None, logical_line):
+        msg = ("M004: Unit tests should use assertIsNone(value) instead"
+               " of using assertEqual(None, value).")
+        yield (0, msg)
+
+
+def no_log_warn_check(logical_line):
+    if re.match(no_log_warn, logical_line):
+        msg = ("M005: LOG.warn is deprecated, please use LOG.warning!")
+        yield (0, msg)
+
+
+def validate_assertIsNotNone(logical_line):
+    if re.match(assert_Not_Equal, logical_line) or \
+            re.match(assert_Is_Not, logical_line):
+        msg = ("M006: Unit tests should use assertIsNotNone(value) instead"
+               " of using assertNotEqual(None, value) or"
+               " assertIsNot(None, value).")
+        yield (0, msg)
+
+
+def assert_raisesRegexp(logical_line):
+    res = assert_raises_regexp.search(logical_line)
+    if res:
+        yield (0, "M007: assertRaisesRegex must be used instead "
+                  "of assertRaisesRegexp")
+
+
+def factory(register):
+    register(no_mutable_default_args)
+    register(no_xrange)
+    register(validate_assertTrue)
+    register(validate_assertIsNone)
+    register(no_log_warn_check)
+    register(validate_assertIsNotNone)
+    register(assert_raisesRegexp)
diff --git a/almanach/tests/unit/core/controllers/test_entity_controller.py b/almanach/tests/unit/core/controllers/test_entity_controller.py
index db4d1f9..35313d1 100644
--- a/almanach/tests/unit/core/controllers/test_entity_controller.py
+++ b/almanach/tests/unit/core/controllers/test_entity_controller.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class TestEntityController(base.BaseTestCase):
         entity_id = "some_entity_id"
         self.database_adapter.count_entity_entries.return_value = 1
 
-        self.assertEqual(True, self.controller.entity_exists(entity_id))
+        self.assertTrue(self.controller.entity_exists(entity_id))
 
         self.database_adapter.count_entity_entries.expect_called_once_with(entity_id=entity_id)
 
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 51837a3..49c5358 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ commands = python setup.py build_sphinx --fresh-env
 show-source = True
 max-line-length = 120
 exclude = .venv,.git,.tox,dist,doc,*egg,build
+
+[hacking]
+local-check-factory = almanach.hacking.checks.factory