Gas safety certificates (CP12) for landlords

By Laura at Domovita

Last reviewed: 30 May 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Gas safety law changes and local rules vary, so always check the current gov.uk and Health and Safety Executive guidance before you act.

What the law requires

If you let a residential property that has any gas appliance, gas pipework or a flue, you have legal duties as a landlord under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In plain terms, three things are required:

• Have every gas appliance and flue you are responsible for checked for safety at least every 12 months.
• Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for the check, and for any installation, maintenance or repair work on gas.
• Keep a record of each safety check and give a copy to your tenants.

You also have a general duty to keep the gas pipework, appliances and flues in your property in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. The safety check is a snapshot once a year; maintenance is an ongoing responsibility.

What is the CP12 (the gas safety record)?

"CP12" is the common name for the Landlord Gas Safety Record - the document an engineer issues after the annual check. The regulations call it a record rather than a "certificate", which is why you may see it described both ways. It confirms which appliances and flues were checked, the date of the check, and any defects found and what was done about them.

A gas safety record typically shows:

• The address of the property checked.
• A description and location of each appliance or flue inspected.
• The name, signature and Gas Safe registration number of the engineer who carried out the check.
• The date the check was carried out.
• The results of the check, including any defects identified and any action taken or needed.
• Your name and address as the landlord (or the agent acting for you).

Who must be a Gas Safe registered engineer

Only a Gas Safe registered engineer may legally carry out the safety check and any work on gas fittings or appliances in your rented property. Gas Safe Register is the official list of engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas in the UK; it replaced the old CORGI scheme. You can confirm an engineer is registered and check the specific work they are qualified for through the Gas Safe Register. Every registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card, and it is reasonable to ask to see it before work starts.

What gets checked

The annual check looks at the gas appliances and flues you are responsible for as landlord. An engineer will typically verify, for each appliance:

• That it is on a stable surface and correctly installed.
• That it is burning correctly, with the right gas pressure and heat input.
• That harmful gases are being safely removed through an effective flue or chimney.
• That ventilation passages are clear and adequate.
• That any safety devices are working as they should.

The check covers appliances the landlord owns and provides. Tenants' own gas appliances are not part of the landlord's check, though the connecting installation pipework and flue serving them generally remain the landlord's responsibility. If you are unsure where the line falls in your property, the Health and Safety Executive's landlord pages set out the responsibilities in detail.

A gas safety check is not the same as a full service. A service is a more thorough maintenance task. The safety check confirms an appliance is safe to use at the time of the check; it is good practice to also service appliances in line with the manufacturer's instructions.

Serving the record on your tenants

Having the check done is only half the duty. You must give the gas safety record to your tenants within the timescales set by the regulations:

• New tenants: a copy of the current record must be given before they move in.
• Existing tenants: a copy of the record from each annual check must be given within 28 days of the check being carried out.

You can give the record on paper or, where the tenant agrees, by email or another electronic method. Keep evidence that you provided it, such as a signed acknowledgement or a saved email, because being able to show you served it is as important as serving it. For a let where occupancy is short term (for example a holiday let of less than 28 days), a copy can instead be displayed in a prominent position in the property - check the current rules for your specific situation.

Timing: when the annual check is due

The check must be carried out at least every 12 months. To avoid accidentally letting the date slip, the regulations allow you to have the check done up to two months before the existing record expires while keeping the same renewal date - so you do not lose time by being early. The new record's "deadline" date stays anchored to the original anniversary rather than resetting to the date of the early check. If you let the gap exceed 12 months, you are in breach, so booking ahead of the anniversary is the safe habit. Always confirm the current approach against the HSE Approved Code of Practice (L56).

Keeping records

You must keep a copy of each gas safety record until two further checks have been carried out - in practice, this means retaining each record for at least two years. Keeping older records is sensible too, as a continuous history is useful evidence if a problem ever arises. Many landlords keep both a physical and a digital copy. A clear record-keeping habit also helps at the end of a tenancy and supports any wider compliance file you maintain alongside your EPC, deposit protection and electrical safety paperwork.

What happens if you get it wrong

Gas safety is one of the areas where the consequences of non-compliance are serious. Gas safety duties are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, and breaches can lead to prosecution, unlimited fines and, in the most serious cases, imprisonment. Beyond the direct penalties, an unsafe gas appliance can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, fire or explosion - the human cost is the real reason the rules are strict.

There can also be knock-on effects for the tenancy itself. Failing to provide a valid gas safety record to tenants has, under the rules that applied to assured shorthold tenancies, affected a landlord's ability to use certain possession routes. Possession law has changed significantly for tenancies in England following the Renters' Rights Act, so if a tenancy is going wrong, check the current possession rules rather than relying on older guidance. The gas safety check itself remains a firm, unchanged legal duty regardless of how possession law evolves.

A simple routine that keeps you compliant

The duty is straightforward once you build a habit around it:

• Diary the annual check a month before the record expires, and book a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Check the engineer's Gas Safe ID card and registration before work starts.
• Give new tenants the record before they move in; give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of each check.
• Save the record (and proof you served it) with your property compliance file, and keep it for at least two years.
• Maintain appliances between checks - a safety check is not a substitute for servicing.

If anything here is unclear, or your property has an unusual gas setup, the Gas Safe Register and the HSE landlord pages are the authoritative sources. Where your local council operates a licensing scheme, it may also ask to see your gas safety records, so keeping them tidy pays off in more ways than one.

Frequently asked questions

Is a CP12 the same as a gas safety certificate?

Yes, they refer to the same thing. CP12 is the common industry name for the Landlord Gas Safety Record - the document a Gas Safe registered engineer issues after the annual check. The regulations call it a record rather than a certificate, but the terms are used interchangeably. It confirms the appliances checked, the date, and any defects found.

How often does a landlord gas safety check need to be done?

At least every 12 months. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, every gas appliance and flue the landlord is responsible for must be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can have the check done up to two months early without losing the original renewal date, which helps you avoid accidentally letting the deadline slip past 12 months.

When do I have to give the gas safety record to my tenants?

New tenants must receive a copy of the current record before they move in. Existing tenants must be given a copy within 28 days of each annual check being carried out. You can provide it on paper or electronically where the tenant agrees. Keep proof that you served it, such as a saved email or a signed acknowledgement.

Can I do the gas safety check myself?

No. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer may legally carry out the safety check and any gas installation, maintenance or repair work in a rented property. Gas Safe Register is the official UK list of engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas. You can verify an engineer and their qualifications on the Gas Safe Register website, and ask to see their ID card.

How long do I need to keep gas safety records?

Keep a copy of each gas safety record until two further checks have been carried out, which in practice means at least two years. Retaining older records is also sensible, as a continuous history is useful evidence if a problem ever arises. Storing both a digital and a physical copy with the rest of your compliance paperwork is good practice.

What are the penalties for not having a valid gas safety certificate?

Gas safety duties are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, and breaches can lead to prosecution, unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. There can also be consequences for the tenancy itself. More importantly, an unsafe gas appliance risks carbon monoxide poisoning, fire or explosion, which is why the rules are strict. Check the current HSE guidance for the up-to-date position.

Related guides

• EICR and electrical safety for rented homes
• UK Lettings Compliance - the Landlord Checklist
• The Renters' Rights Act 2026: what private landlords need to do
• List your rental on Domovita - free for private landlords