Gas Safety Certificates: what landlords need to do

If you let a property with gas appliances, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 make you responsible for keeping them safe. The centrepiece is an annual gas safety check and the record that comes with it, often called a landlord gas safety record or CP12.

What you must do

• Have every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide checked at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Give existing tenants a copy of the record within 28 days of the check.
• Give new tenants a copy before they move in.
• Keep each record for at least 2 years.
• Keep gas appliances, pipework and flues maintained in a safe condition between checks.

Timing the annual check

You can carry out the check up to two months before the current record expires and keep the original expiry date, so you don't lose time by booking early. Setting a reminder well ahead of the expiry date gives you room to arrange access with your tenants.

Access problems

If a tenant won't allow access, keep a record of every attempt you make to arrange the check. Being able to show you took all reasonable steps matters if anything is questioned later.