What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have every gas appliance, fitting and flue in a rented home checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and give tenants a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days. New tenants must receive it before they move in. Records must be kept for at least two years.
Read more in our guide: Selling a portfolio with tenants
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Law | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 |
| How often | Every 12 months |
| Who can do it | A Gas Safe registered engineer |
| Copy to existing tenants | Within 28 days of the check |
| Copy to new tenants | Before they move in |
| Keep records | At least two years |
| Early renewal | Up to two months early while keeping the original expiry date |
| Breach | A criminal offence, with unlimited fines or imprisonment in serious cases |
What the Check Covers
The engineer checks each gas appliance, such as boilers, fires and hobs, for safe operation, correct ventilation and flue function, and tests pipework for tightness. The resulting landlord gas safety record, often called a CP12 after an old form name, lists each appliance and any defects. Appliances found to be immediately dangerous must not be used until repaired. Landlords must also keep gas installations in safe condition between checks, and tenants' own appliances are the tenant's responsibility, though the landlord remains responsible for the pipework.
Gas Safety When Selling a Portfolio
- Buyers ask for the current record for every property with gas, and often the previous one, to check there has been no gap.
- A missing or expired record is a compliance failure that passes practical risk to the buyer, so it may lead to a retention or price change.
- If a check falls due between exchange and completion, agree in the contract who will arrange it.
- Records go in the data room or sale pack alongside the EICR and EPC.
Practical Tips
- Keep a single compliance calendar for the whole portfolio, with automatic reminders 60 days before each expiry.
- Record how and when each copy was given to tenants.
- If a tenant refuses access, keep records of at least two or three written attempts to arrange it.
- Older boilers that keep failing checks are a cost buyers will price in; consider whether replacement or sale is better value.
Official Sources and Further Reading
- HSE: Gas safety, landlords and letting agents
- GOV.UK: Private renting, your landlord's safety responsibilities
General information for landlords in England, checked against official sources in October 2026. It is not tax, legal or financial advice: speak to a qualified accountant or solicitor about your own circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Landlords must have every gas appliance, fitting and flue in a rented home checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and give tenants a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days. New tenants must receive it before they move in. Records must be kept for at least two years.
Every 12 months, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with a copy of the record given to tenants within 28 days.
The landlord must take all reasonable steps to gain access and keep records of each attempt. Forcing entry is not allowed.
Yes. Current gas safety records are a standard part of the information buyers expect when buying a tenanted property.
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