Landlord gas safety certificate
A landlord gas safety certificate is the same document as the Landlord gas safety record. For a home let in England for money's worth, each appliance and flue the landlord provides must be checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Checked on 23 Oct 2026
Give each existing tenant a copy within 28 days of the check, and give a new tenant the last record before they move in. A check finished in the 2 months before the deadline date counts as done on that deadline date for the next 12-month interval. Keep the record until two further checks, or for 2 years after the last check if that appliance or flue is removed.
A breach of these health and safety regulations is an offence. On summary conviction the penalty is imprisonment up to the magistrates' court general limit, or a fine with no upper limit in England and Wales, or both. On indictment the maximum is two years' imprisonment or a fine, or both. The court sets the penalty.
Check and copy deadlines
CHECK AND COPY DEADLINESAn early check preserves the next deadline under regulation 36A; the copy deadline still runs from the actual check.
| Event | Timing | How the rule applies |
|---|---|---|
| Actual safety check | Within the 2 months before the deadline date | A check completed within the 2-month period ending on the existing deadline counts as done on that deadline date. Checked on 23 Oct 2026 |
| Date counted for the next interval | The existing deadline date | The next check must be completed within 12 months of the counted date. Checked on 23 Oct 2026 |
| Copy to each existing tenant | Within 28 days of the actual check | Count 28 days from the actual check, not the date counted for the next interval. Checked on 23 Oct 2026 |
| New tenancy starts | Within 12 months of the check date | If the new tenancy starts within 12 months of the check date, the record remains current. Give the new tenant a copy before occupation. Checked on 23 Oct 2026 |
| Keeping the record | Until two further checks, unless removed | If the appliance or flue is removed, keep its record for 2 years from the last check. Checked on 23 Oct 2026 |
What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
HSE calls the document the Landlord gas safety record, previously referred to as a gas safety record, certificate or CP12 form. Gas Safe Register does not produce its own record form.
Who must arrange the check?
Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 covers residential occupation for money or money's worth under a lease or licence. A periodic tenancy counts, as does a fixed lease shorter than 7 years. Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
The landlord must maintain gas fittings and flues safely to prevent injury to lawful residents. Checks cover landlord-owned appliances supplied to tenants, including portable appliances. Tenants check their own appliances and a flue serving only their appliance.
When is the next gas safety check due?
Check each appliance and flue within 12 months of installation and at intervals no longer than 12 months. Before a new lease, the check must fall within the preceding 12 months, or within 12 months after installation, whichever is later. Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
The 2-month early-check window in regulation 36A preserves the deadline for regulation 36(3)(a) and (b). Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
Who is allowed to do the check?
Arrange a Gas Safe registered engineer. Landlords cannot do their own checks. Regulation 36 requires someone within the class approved by HSE for regulation 3(3), or that person's employee.
What must the record contain?
- A description and location of each appliance or flue checked.
- The checker's name and signature, plus the registration number of the engineer or employer with the HSE-approved body.
- The landlord's or agent's name and address.
- Safety-related defects found and remedial action taken.
The examination includes, but is not limited to, the matters in regulation 26(9)(a) to (d), as required by regulation 36(9).
When must tenants receive a copy?
Each existing tenant gets a copy within 28 days of the check. New tenants get the last record before occupation. For occupation lasting 28 days or less, a prominently displayed copy is permitted instead. Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
An electronic copy works if the tenant agrees and can access it; supply paper if requested. HSE says the record remains current for 12 months from the check date and can be copied to new tenants within that period. Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
What if the home is empty between tenants?
Before new tenants move in, ensure appliances and flues are safe and an up-to-date record is ready to give them.
What if the tenant will not allow access?
You must not use force to enter. HSE advises recording every attempt to arrange access.
What if the check finds a defect?
Act promptly to correct a recorded defect unless it was fixed during the check. Do not use an appliance that is potentially unsafe until the defect is corrected.
What penalty can a court impose?
The Regulations were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Breaching health and safety regulations is an offence under section 33(1)(c). Under Schedule 3A, summary conviction can result in imprisonment up to the magistrates' court general limit, or a fine with no upper limit in England and Wales, or both. On indictment the maximum is two years' imprisonment or a fine, or both. Checked on 23 Oct 2026.
HSE enforces the gas rules and takes action over breaches. The court determines the sentence.
Does a draft PRS Database rule require the record?
Draft Schedule 3 asks for a gas safety record copy and issue date if a record exists. This is a draft requirement, not a current duty to upload. See the compliance checklist and registration guide.