Gas safety certificates for landlords

If your rental property has any gas appliances — a boiler, gas hob, gas fire, or gas water heater — you are legally required to have an annual gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The resulting certificate is commonly known as a CP12 or Landlord Gas Safety Record.

What does the law require?

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must:

Have all gas appliances, fittings, and flues checked every 12 months
Use a Gas Safe registered engineer — you can verify registration at gassaferegister.co.uk
Give a copy of the safety record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check
Give a copy to new tenants before they move in
Keep records for at least 2 years

What does the check cover?

The engineer will inspect and test:

Gas boilers and central heating systems
Gas fires and gas room heaters
Gas cookers (if provided by the landlord)
Gas water heaters
Flues and ventilation for all gas appliances
Gas pipework and fittings

Tenant-owned appliances (such as a gas cooker they brought themselves) are not your responsibility, but the pipework and gas supply that feeds them still is.

What does it cost?

A standard gas safety check typically costs between £60 and £120, depending on the number of appliances and your location. Some engineers offer combined packages with boiler servicing.

Penalties for non-compliance

Failing to carry out annual gas safety checks can result in:

Criminal prosecution — a fine of up to £6,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months per offence
Civil liability — if a tenant is injured or killed due to a gas safety failure, the landlord can face manslaughter charges
Insurance implications — your landlord insurance may be invalidated
Licensing conditions — if your property requires a licence, a valid gas safety certificate is usually a licence condition

Timing and renewals

You can have the check done up to 2 months before the expiry date of the current certificate without losing any time — the new certificate will run from the expiry date of the old one, not from the date of the new check. This gives you flexibility to schedule around tenant availability.

No gas appliances?

If the property has no gas supply and no gas appliances, you do not need a gas safety certificate. However, if there is a gas meter or capped-off gas supply, it is good practice to have it checked or formally disconnected.