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Landlord gas safety checks: what the law requires
How often, who can do it, what the tenant has to receive, and the alarm rules that sit alongside it.
If you let a property with gas appliances, a gas safety check every year is a legal duty, not a nice extra. The rules are set out in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Here is what they mean in practice, based on HSE guidance.
How often you need a gas safety check
Every gas appliance, flue and the pipework that you provide for tenants needs a safety check every 12 months. That covers the boiler and also gas fires and cookers you supply. Appliances the tenant owns are their responsibility, although the pipework supplying them is still yours to maintain.
There is some flexibility on timing. Since 2018, a check can be done up to two months before the deadline and the original anniversary date is kept, as if the check had been done exactly 12 months after the last one. That makes it easier to fit the check around tenants without losing time off the cycle. If you use this, you need to be able to show the timescales were met.
Who can carry it out
The check must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Before booking anyone, ask to see their Gas Safe ID card and check the back to make sure they are qualified for the type of appliances in the property. You can also look them up on the Gas Safe Register.
At the end of the check the engineer issues a landlord gas safety record, often called a CP12. It lists each appliance checked, what was found, and any defects and what was done about them.
What tenants must receive
- Existing tenants: a copy of the record within 28 days of the check.
- New tenants: a copy before they move in.
- Short lets of under 28 days: a copy displayed prominently in the property.
The record can be sent electronically if the tenant is happy with that, but they can ask for a paper copy.
How long to keep records
Keep each gas safety record for at least two years. If you have used the early check flexibility, keep the record until two further checks have been carried out. A simple folder or digital file per property, with the date of the next check noted, saves a lot of chasing.
A safety check is not the same as a service
A gas safety check confirms the appliances are safe to use at that point. A full service goes further, cleaning and checking the boiler so it keeps running well. Landlords also have a duty to keep gas appliances maintained in a safe condition, and most manufacturers' warranties depend on an annual service. Doing the service and the safety check at the same visit is usually the sensible option, with less disruption for the tenant. What happens during a boiler service covers what is involved.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Alongside the gas rules, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1 October 2022. For rented homes in England, landlords must:
- Fit a smoke alarm on each storey used as living accommodation.
- Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation that has a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler or wood burner. Gas cookers are excluded.
- Repair or replace an alarm once told it is faulty.
The local council enforces these rules and can fine landlords who do not comply with a remedial notice.
Making it easy on tenants
Most of the friction in landlord checks is access. Arranging a time with the tenant directly, sending the record promptly and keeping a written account of anything found makes the next year easier. If you are coming up to winter, it is also a good moment to check lagging and stopcocks in the property, as covered in how to stop pipes freezing.
Landlord gas safety checks in Ashford and Folkestone
I carry out landlord gas safety checks, servicing and repairs for landlords and letting agents across Ashford, Folkestone and the surrounding area, with checks arranged around tenants and clear written records. Single properties are as welcome as portfolios. See landlord and rental work or boiler servicing and repairs, or call to book.
Common questions
How often does a landlord need a gas safety check?
Every 12 months. The check can be done up to two months early while keeping the original anniversary date.
When do tenants need a copy of the gas safety record?
Existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and new tenants before they move in.
How long should I keep gas safety records?
At least two years, or until two further checks have been done if you use the early check flexibility.