This is a plain-English guide for landlords in England. It is not legal advice. The main law is the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, Regulation 36.
Your gas safety duties
| Duty | What it means |
|---|---|
| Annual gas safety check | Every gas appliance and flue you provide must be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer within 12 months of the last check. |
| Maintenance | Keep the pipework, appliances and flues you provide in a safe condition. Follow the manufacturer’s servicing instructions, which for most boilers means a yearly service. |
| Give tenants a copy | Existing tenants within 28 days of the check. New tenants before they move in. For lets of under 28 days, you can display a copy in the property. |
| Keep records | Keep each record for at least 2 years. |
| Use a Gas Safe engineer | Only a Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out gas work or a gas safety check. Check the ID card. |
The 2-month early renewal window
You can have the gas safety check carried out up to 2 months before the deadline and keep the original expiry date. For example, if your certificate expires on 1 June, a check on 10 April still gives you a new expiry of 1 June next year. Our free reminders are timed to this window.
Other safety duties for landlords
| Requirement | What you must do |
|---|---|
| Smoke alarms | At least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, checked working on the first day of each new tenancy. |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | A CO alarm in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a boiler or gas fire. Gas cookers are excluded. |
| EICR | The electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years, with a copy to tenants within 28 days. |
| EPC | A valid Energy Performance Certificate given to tenants, and the property must meet the minimum energy rating to be let. |
We can sort all of these in one visit. See EICR, alarms and EPC.
If your tenant will not let you in
You must take all reasonable steps to carry out the check. Write to the tenant, offer different times, and keep a record of every attempt. If you still cannot get access, your records show you did all you reasonably could. We log every attempt we make to arrange access for you.
Questions
What is the penalty for not having a gas safety certificate?
Failing to meet the gas safety duties is a criminal offence. The Health and Safety Executive can prosecute, and courts can give unlimited fines and, in serious cases, prison sentences. If a tenant is harmed, the consequences are far worse.
Can I renew my gas safety certificate early?
Yes. Since April 2018 you can have the check done up to 2 months before the due date and keep the original expiry date. You must then keep the records until two further checks have been done.
How long must I keep gas safety records?
At least 2 years, or until two further checks have been carried out if you use the early renewal window.
Does the law apply to lodgers?
Yes. If you rent out a room in your own home, the gas safety duties apply to appliances and flues you provide.
Sources: Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998; Health and Safety Executive guidance for landlords; Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022; Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.