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The Landlord's Guide to Gas Safety Certificates (CP12)
27 March 2026 · 5 min read
What the law requires, what an engineer actually checks, and how to stay compliant across a portfolio.
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, every landlord in England and Wales must have all gas appliances and flues in a rented property checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What gets checked
- Gas tightness test on the whole installation
- Appliance burner pressure and gas rate
- Flue flow and spillage testing
- Ventilation provision for each appliance
- Safety devices operating correctly
- Visual inspection of gas pipework and emergency control valve
Your record-keeping duties
- Give a copy of the record to existing tenants within 28 days
- Give a copy to new tenants at the start of the tenancy
- Keep records for at least two years
- Carry out the check within 12 months of the last one, you can do it up to two months early without losing the original anniversary date
A service is not the same as a safety check
A CP12 confirms the appliance is safe on the day. A service cleans and maintains it so it stays reliable and keeps the manufacturer warranty valid. We usually recommend booking both together, it is cheaper than two visits and better for the appliance.