If you let a property with gas appliances in England, an annual gas safety check is a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The record the engineer issues is often called a CP12 or landlord gas safety record. Here’s what it involves and how to stay on top of it.
Who needs one?
Landlords must arrange a gas safety check every 12 months on every gas appliance, flue and chimney they provide for tenants. That includes boilers, gas fires and gas hobs or cookers supplied with the property. Appliances the tenant owns aren’t the landlord’s responsibility to check, but the pipework serving them is.
The check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Always ask to see their Gas Safe ID card, and check the card shows they’re qualified for the type of appliance being checked.
What the engineer checks
A gas safety check typically includes:
- gas tightness: checking the installation for leaks
- pressures and burners: confirming appliances are burning gas correctly
- flues and ventilation: making sure combustion gases are safely removed and there’s enough air supply
- safety devices: checking they work and shut the appliance down if something goes wrong
- a visual check of the appliance’s condition and installation
A gas safety check isn’t the same as a boiler service. The check confirms the appliance is safe; a service keeps it running efficiently and reliably. Many landlords book both on the same visit.
Deadlines and paperwork
- Existing tenants must receive a copy of the record within 28 days of the check.
- New tenants must receive a copy before they move in.
- Keep each record for at least two years.
The two-month renewal window
You can have the check done up to two months before the current record expires and keep the original expiry date. So a check due in September can be done in July, with the next one still due the following September. Booking early avoids lapses when access is difficult.
What if an appliance fails?
If the engineer finds a dangerous appliance, it will be classed as unsafe and, with your permission, disconnected or turned off until it’s repaired. It must not be used until it’s made safe. A good contractor will quote for the repair straight away so the tenant isn’t left without heating or hot water for long.
Don’t forget carbon monoxide alarms
Landlords in England must also fit a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers), and check alarms work at the start of each tenancy. Our smoke and CO alarm guide explains the rules.
One contractor for every certificate
Positive Contractors is Gas Safe registered and an NICEIC Approved Contractor, so we can handle your gas safety record, EICR, alarms and repairs together. We send certificates, photos and invoices in one place. See our gas services, our landlord safety certificates checklist and our landlords and agents page.
We cover London and Essex, with our own engineers working every day across Chigwell, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Woodford, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and Epping. Call 020 8227 0035 or book a gas safety check.