Landlord guide · England
Landlord gas safety certificates: what the law requires
Every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Give existing tenants a copy of the record within 28 days of the check, new tenants before they move in, and keep records for at least two years.
Checked against official guidance on . General information for England, not legal advice.
How often
Once every 12 months. Since 2018 you can have the check done up to two months early and keep the original deadline date, so the annual cycle does not drift earlier each year. If you use that flexibility, keep the record until two further checks have been done.
Who can do it
Only an engineer on the Gas Safe Register, registered for the type of appliance they are checking. Ask for their registration number and check it before the visit.
What the record must show
- A description and the location of each appliance or flue checked
- The engineer’s name, registration number and signature
- The date each appliance or flue was checked
- The address of the property, and your name and address (or your agent’s)
- Any safety defect found and what was done about it
Giving it to tenants
- Existing tenants: within 28 days of the check
- New tenants: before they move in
- Electronic copies are allowed, but a tenant who asks for paper should get paper
If a fault is found
The engineer still issues the record, listing the fault. The appliance must then be repaired, or kept out of use until it is. Book the repair at the same time as the check if you can.
Sources
Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are not sure how they apply to your property, ask your council’s private housing team or a solicitor.
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