How often does a landlord need a gas safety check?

Every 12 months. A landlord must arrange an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues they're responsible for, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The check can be done from 10 to 12 months after the last one without changing the expiry date. They must also keep the gas installation and appliances in safe working order and keep records of each check for about 2 years.

When should I get a copy of the certificate?

Your landlord must give you a copy of the Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the annual check being done. If you're a new tenant, they must give you a copy at the start of your tenancy, before you move in. You're entitled to see it, so ask for it if you haven't been given one — a landlord who's had the check done should be able to hand it over straight away.

What if my landlord won't provide a gas safety certificate?

First ask in writing. If your landlord won't provide a valid, in-date certificate — or you don't think a check has been done — this is a safety matter, not just an admin one. You can report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which enforces landlords' gas duties, and to your local council's environmental health team. Gas safety failures are a criminal offence and can carry serious penalties. Never tamper with gas appliances yourself, and call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 if you smell gas.

Gas safety certificate (CP12): tenant rights

Q: What is a gas safety certificate (CP12)?

A gas safety certificate — officially the 'Landlord Gas Safety Record', and often still called a CP12 — is the document you get after a Gas Safe registered engineer checks the gas appliances, fittings and flues in a rented home. It records what was checked, whether it's safe, and any faults found. By law (the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998) landlords must have this check done every year and give a copy to their tenants.

Q: Does my landlord have to fit a carbon monoxide alarm?

In England, landlords must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted in any room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance (such as a gas boiler or fire), and repair or replace alarms once told they're faulty. Smoke alarms are also required on each storey. Scotland and Wales have their own alarm rules. A gas safety check covers the appliances; the CO alarm is a separate, additional duty — worth checking you have both.

What the certificate is

The “gas safety certificate” is officially the Landlord Gas Safety Record — still widely called a CP12. It’s the document a Gas Safe registered engineer produces after checking the gas appliances, fittings and flues in a rented home. It records what was checked, whether each item is safe, and any faults found.

It exists because landlords have legal duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to keep gas appliances and flues safe and to have them checked every year.

Gas Safe is the only valid registerOnly an engineer on the Gas Safe Register can legally do the check. You can look up an engineer’s registration on the Gas Safe Register website to confirm they’re genuine.

The rules your landlord must follow

Duty	What it means
Annual check	Every gas appliance and flue checked within 12 months (can be done 10–12 months in without moving the expiry date)
Give you the record	A copy within 28 days of the check — or at the start of the tenancy for a new tenant
Keep records	Kept for about 2 years (until two further checks are done)
Maintain appliances	Keep the gas installation and appliances in safe working order, not just checked

The landlord is responsible for the gas appliances and flues they provide. A gas appliance you own and brought with you is usually your responsibility — but the pipework and flues serving it are still the landlord’s.

Getting your copy

You’re entitled to see the record. Your landlord must give you a copy:

within 28 days of each annual check, and
at the start of your tenancy if you’re a new tenant (before you move in).

Haven’t been given one? Ask — ideally in writing. A landlord who’s had the check done should be able to hand it over straight away. Keep the copy safe; it shows the check is in date and lists any issues found.

Carbon monoxide & smoke alarms

Separately from the gas check, landlords in England must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted in any room used as living accommodation that has a fixed combustion appliance (like a gas boiler or gas fire), and repair or replace alarms once told they’re faulty. Smoke alarms are also required on each storey. Scotland and Wales have their own alarm rules.

Two separate dutiesThe gas safety check covers the appliances; the CO alarm is an extra legal duty on top. Make sure your home has both — and test the alarm.

If your landlord won’t provide one

No valid, in-date certificate — or no check done at all — is a safety matter, not just admin. Steps:

Ask in writing for a copy of the current Landlord Gas Safety Record.
If they won’t provide it, report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which enforces landlords’ gas duties, and to your council’s environmental health team.
Gas safety failures are a criminal offence and can carry serious penalties for the landlord.

If you smell gas or feel unwellLeave it to the experts — don’t tamper with appliances. Call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999, open doors and windows, and get out if you need to. Suspected carbon monoxide (headaches, dizziness, nausea that eases when you leave the property)? Get fresh air and seek medical help.

Do this now

Check the date on your gas safety certificate — is it within the last 12 months? No certificate, or an out-of-date one? Ask your landlord in writing today, and if they don’t act, report it to the HSE and your council.

While you’re at it, know your other renting rights: tenant fees, deposit protection, and damp & mould. Free help from Shelter (0808 800 4444) and Citizens Advice.

Related guides — renting

Tenant fees Deposit protection Right to Rent Damp & mould Repairs & disrepair

Source verification Primary sources: HSE — Gas safety: landlords and letting agents, and Gas safety check records (hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords); Gas Safe Register — Landlord gas safety responsibilities (gassaferegister.co.uk); plus GOV.UK for the England carbon monoxide / smoke alarm rules. Last verified 2 July 2026 — the annual (12-month) gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, the 10–12-month window that keeps the expiry date, the copy to current tenants within 28 days and to new tenants at the start of the tenancy, the ~2-year record retention, the duty to maintain appliances (Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998), the CO/smoke alarm duties in England, and the HSE/council enforcement route were web-checked against HSE and Gas Safe Register. Confidence: High — statutory duties. Scope: Great Britain (GSIUR applies in England, Wales & Scotland; alarm rules differ by nation; Northern Ireland has separate rules). Not legal advice — free help from Shelter and Citizens Advice; National Gas Emergency 0800 111 999.

Gas safety certificates — common questions

What is a CP12?

The Landlord Gas Safety Record — the certificate a Gas Safe registered engineer gives after the annual check of a rented home’s gas appliances and flues. It records what was checked, whether it’s safe, and any faults.

How often is a check needed?

Every 12 months. It can be done 10–12 months after the last one without changing the expiry date. The landlord must also keep the appliances in safe working order and keep records for about 2 years.

When should I get the certificate?

Within 28 days of the annual check, or at the start of your tenancy if you’re a new tenant. Ask in writing if you haven’t been given one.

What if my landlord won’t give me one?

Ask in writing, then report it to the HSE and your council’s environmental health team — gas safety failures are a criminal offence. Call 0800 111 999 if you smell gas.

Does the landlord have to fit a CO alarm?

In England, yes — in any living room with a fixed combustion appliance (like a gas boiler or fire), plus smoke alarms on each storey. Scotland and Wales have their own rules. It’s a separate duty from the gas check.

Sources: Landlord gas duties, the annual check and records · HSE — Gas safety and Gas Safe Register. SortedUK is not a law firm and this is general information. National Gas Emergency: 0800 111 999. Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.

Gas safety certificate — your landlord’s legal duty