What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
A Gas Safety Certificate (officially called CP12 - Certification of Gas Safety) is a legal document confirming all gas appliances, fittings, and flues in your rental property are safe.
Safety Certified
Legal Compliance
Tenant Protection
Legal Requirements
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
As a landlord, you MUST:
- Have all gas appliances checked annually by Gas Safe registered engineer
- Provide current certificate to tenants within 28 days of check (or before move-in for new tenants)
- Keep records for 2 years minimum
- Maintain all gas appliances and flues
- Only use Gas Safe registered engineers
Penalties for Non-Compliance
| Offence | Criminal Penalty | Civil Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| No valid certificate | Up to £20,000 + 6 months prison | Up to £30,000 |
| Using non-Gas Safe engineer | Up to £20,000 + 6 months prison | Up to £30,000 |
| Not providing certificate to tenant | Unlimited fine | Up to £5,000 |
| Unsafe appliance causing death | Up to 5 years prison | - |
What's Checked During Inspection?
- Boilers and central heating systems
- Gas cookers and hobs
- Gas fires (fixed and portable)
- Water heaters
Checks: Operating pressure, flame picture, ventilation, ignition device, safe operation
- Flue integrity and termination
- Air vents and grilles
- Combustion air supply
- Flue gas spillage testing
Purpose: Ensure combustion products safely exit building and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
- Gas supply pipework condition
- Emergency control valves
- Safety devices (flame failure devices)
- Gas tightness testing
Certification Process
Step-by-Step Process
Book Inspection
Contact Gas Safe registered engineer. Book 4-6 weeks before current certificate expires.
Notify Tenant
Give reasonable notice (24-48 hours). Tenant must provide access.
Inspection
Engineer tests all gas appliances and issues certificate on-site (typically 30-60 minutes).
Provide Certificate
Give copy to tenant within 28 days. Keep original for records (2 years minimum).
What If Appliance Fails?
Engineer will classify defects:
- Immediately Dangerous (ID): Appliance isolated/disconnected. Must not be used until repaired.
- At Risk (AR): Not immediately dangerous but needs repair soon.
- Not to Current Standards (NCS): Works safely but doesn't meet modern regulations.
Your responsibility: Arrange repairs promptly. Cannot issue certificate until ID/AR issues resolved.
Costs
| Property Type | Typical Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat (1-2 appliances) | £60-80 | 30-45 mins |
| 2-3 bed house (2-3 appliances) | £80-100 | 45-60 mins |
| 4+ bed house (3+ appliances) | £100-130 | 60-90 mins |
| Multi-appliance property | £120-150+ | 90+ mins |
Common Questions
No. Best practice is to use independent engineer to avoid conflict of interest. HSE recommends this approach.
Document all access attempts. Send recorded delivery letters. May need to start eviction if tenant persistently refuses. Seek legal advice.
Not legally required when empty, but MUST have valid certificate before new tenant moves in.
Only fixed/permanent appliances need checking. Portable plug-in heaters are tenant's responsibility.
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Certificate issued same day • Multi-property discounts • Tenant liaison
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