Gas Safety Certificates: What Landlords Need To Know

As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring your rental properties are safe and habitable. Part of this is ensuring you complete the required gas safety checks for the property every year. This gas safety certificate is essential. Not completing these checks will see you liable for serious fines.

In this article we take a look at everything landlords need to know about Gas Safety Regulations, what the legal requirements mean, how often gas safety checks need to be undertaken, and when you need to provide an up to date Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants.

What Are the Current Gas Safety Regulations for Landlords in the UK?

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 made it a legal responsibility for landlords and letting agents to ensure the safety of any gas fittings and appliances in rental properties. Appliances and fittings that landlords and letting agents must maintain the safety of include:

• Gas appliances (e.g., gas ovens, gas fireplaces)​
• Pipework leading to gas appliances​
• Flues from gas appliances​

Annual inspections should be undertaken to ensure there are no leaks and all appliances are properly functioning.

What Are the Benefits of the 2018 Gas Safety Regulations?

In April 2018, the Gas Safety Regulations (Installation and Use) (Amendment) 2018 was implemented, providing landlords with more flexibility regarding the renewal of gas safety records. 

Prior to this amendment, landlords were required to complete gas safety checks "within 12 months" of the previous checks, often leading to checks every 10 or 11 months to remain compliant. 

Over a ten-year period, this resulted in landlords completing 11 checks instead of the statutory 10.​

The 2018 amendments introduced flexibility in the timing of annual gas safety checks without shortening safety check cycles.

This flexibility reduced the issue of ‘over complying’ and enabled improved maintenance planning; benefiting both the tenant and the landlord.

You can find out more about what this means and how to meet requirements in the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.

Who Needs a Gas Safety Inspection?

Gas safety checks are needed by:

• Landlords
• Housing associations
• Local authorities
• Hotels and B&Bs
• Colleges
• Boarding schools
• Hostels

Related: What Is An HMO And Do You Need An HMO Licence?

How Often Do Landlords Need to Get a Gas Safety Inspection?

Landlords need to renew their gas safety certificates every year.

The Gas Safety Regulations 2018 allow landlords to renew the gas safety record up to two months before the deadline date (which is 12 months from the prior inspection) without losing any validity period. 

Once the check has been completed, the record is treated as if it were carried out on the last day of the 12-month period to ensure no shortening of safety cycles and to reduce over-compliance. 

Example:

If your current gas safety certificate expires on October 1st, 2025, you could carry out your gas safety check on August 1st, 2025, and your new certificate will still be valid until October 1st, 2025.​

It's important to note that this 'MOT-style' renewal is only available if you can prove that your two previous gas checks were carried out on time. 

If you cannot provide evidence of the two previous gas safety records, the expiry date of the current gas safety record will be used as 12 months from the date of the last gas safety check. ​

What Is Involved in a Gas Safety Check?

An annual gas safety check involves employing a certified Gas Safe registered Engineer. They will need to visit your property and inspect any gas appliances, such as a gas oven, boiler and hot water cylinder.

During their visit, the engineer will:

• Carry out a visual inspection of all gas appliances
• Check and record the gas rate and burner pressure
• Carry out a tightness test at the gas meter to ensure there are no leaks
• Test the appliance flue gases
• Check and clean the condensate trap
• Check the ventilation and air supply
• Ensure safety devices are working
• Carry out a visual check of your heating system to look for defects, including radiators and hot water cylinders
• Visually inspect the boiler flue system (including loft space if required)
• Check the pressure vessel inside the boiler
• Provide you with a gas safety certificate

It’s important to note that an annual gas safety check is different to a gas or boiler service. Whilst a check involves inspection and testing, it does not include the repairing of appliances.

What is included in a gas safety certificate?

Gas safety certificates include the following details:

• A description and location of each appliance checked
• The name, registration number, and signature of the Gas Safe engineer
• The date of the inspection
• The address of the rental property
• Details of any defects or faults found and actions required to fix them
• Confirmation of compliance with safety regulations

This document must be kept on record for at least two years.

How Long Does a Gas Safety Check Take?

A gas safety check usually takes around 30 minutes to complete, although this depends on the size of the property and the number of appliances. It may take longer if urgent repairs are needed. ​

When Do I Receive My Gas Safety Certificate?

After your gas safety inspection, your engineer will provide you with a digital copy of the Landlord Gas Safety Record, otherwise known as a gas safety certificate or 'CP12'.

What Happens if My Property Fails it's Gas Safety Check?

If any gas appliances in the property are deemed unsafe, the engineer will indicate this on the gas safety certificate by marking them “Not Safe to Use.” They may assign one of the following codes:

• Immediately Dangerous (ID): The appliance poses an immediate danger and must be disconnected immediately.
• At Risk (AR): A fault exists that could become dangerous over time if not resolved.
• Not to Current Standards (NCS): The installation doesn’t meet current regulations but is technically safe to use.

If the appliance is ID or AR, the engineer will request permission to disconnect it. You should arrange any necessary repairs as soon as possible and have a reinspection carried out to secure an updated, valid gas safety certificate.

Where Can I Find a Qualified Gas Safe Engineer?

All gas safety checks and services should be carried out by a fully qualified Gas Safe Engineer. You or your tenant should ask the engineer to present their ID on arrival to ensure that they are certified.

You can search for a certified engineer via the Gas Safe Register.

The typical cost for a gas safety check in 2025 ranges from £40 to £120, depending on your location and the number of appliances.

A few additional helpful links:

• Gas Safety Certificate from £39 | My Constructor
• Gas Safety Certificate from £30 | Landlord Certificates
• Gas Safety Certificates & Servicing for Landlords | OpenRent
• Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords | Letting a Property
• Gas Safety Landlord Certificate | Mashroom
• Gas Safety Certificate | Landlord CP12 Certificate | 24/7 Home Rescue™️

When Do I Need to Provide the Certificate to Tenants?

• Existing tenants: You must provide the gas safety certificate within 28 days of the inspection.
• New tenants: A valid certificate must be given before the tenancy begins.

If you’re letting through an agent, make sure they follow this rule too—it’s still your responsibility.

What Are My Rights to Access the Property?

As with any form of property inspection, landlords must give at least 24 hours notice before entering the property. However, it is advisable to give more notice to ensure you don’t inconvenience your tenant and ensure there are no objections.

Penalties for Not Having a Valid Gas Safety Certificate

Not having a valid certificate is a criminal offence that can result in:

• Unlimited fines
• Up to six months’ imprisonment
• Prohibition or improvement notices
• Emergency remedial action by the local authority

Failure to comply also affects your legal standing during an eviction process under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988—you cannot legally serve notice without a valid gas safety record in place at the start of the tenancy.

Other Legal Requirements Landlords Must Follow

Alongside annual gas safety checks, landlords must also comply with:

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): Must be renewed every 10 years. From 2025, landlords are expected to meet a minimum rating of E, with proposed changes aiming for a minimum 'C' by 2030.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR): Required every five years. Landlords must provide a copy of the report to tenants and rectify any issues identified as per the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
• Fire Safety: All rental properties must comply with The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. This includes working smoke alarms on every floor and carbon monoxide detectors in rooms with solid fuel appliances

Stay Compliant With Landlord Studio

Keeping on top of your compliance responsibilities—like scheduling annual gas checks and storing gas safety certificates—can get overwhelming. With Landlord Studio, you can:

• Set automated reminders for inspections and renewals
• Upload and store gas safety records, EPCs, and EICRs
• Log maintenance issues and tenant communication
• Access key documents from anywhere via mobile or desktop

Staying compliant doesn't have to be complicated. Learn more about how Landlord Studio can help and create your free account today.

Final Thoughts

Gas safety is not just a legal responsibility but an essential part of keeping your tenants safe and your investment protected. 

Annual inspections, keeping records up to date, and acting on faults quickly will help you stay compliant and avoid costly penalties.

Whether you manage one property or a full portfolio, it pays to stay organised. Using a tool like Landlord Studio can help simplify your landlord responsibilities and give you peace of mind.

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