How Often Do Landlords Need a Gas Safety Certificate?
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Landlords must have a gas safety check every 12 months, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The certificate (CP12) must be given to tenants within 28 days of the check, or before they move in for new tenants.
How often is the gas safety check needed?
Every 12 months without exception. You can do it earlier but never later. Many landlords schedule checks 10-11 months after the previous one to avoid any risk of expiry.
Who can do the check?
Only a Gas Safe registered engineer. Check their ID card and verify their registration number on the Gas Safe Register website. Using an unregistered person is illegal.
When do I give the certificate to tenants?
Existing tenants: within 28 days of the check. New tenants: before they move in. Keep proof you provided it.
What are the penalties?
Fines up to £6,000 per breach. Criminal prosecution possible for serious failures. You also cannot serve a valid Section 21 without a current certificate.
Managing this yourself?
LandlordOS helps UK landlords stay compliant and organised:
- Automatic compliance reminders for Gas Safety, EICR, EPC
- Document storage with AI-powered certificate reading
- Tenancy tracking and rent management
LandlordOS tip
Set a recurring calendar reminder for 6 weeks before expiry. This gives you time to book an engineer and handle any repairs flagged during the check.