Gas safety
Gas Safety Certificate Expired? What Happens and What to Do
If you let a property with gas appliances, every one of them must be safety-checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer at least every 12 months. Letting with an expired gas safety record is a criminal offence. If yours has lapsed, here is what that means and what to do today.
What the law requires
- An annual check of every gas appliance, fitting and flue you provide, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- A copy of the record (often called a CP12) to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in.
- Keep records for at least two years.
- Maintenance: appliances must be kept in a safe condition between checks, not just checked.
You can have the check done up to two months before the anniversary and keep the original renewal date, so an early booking never costs you time.
What happens if it lapses
Gas safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive under criminal law. A conviction can bring an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison, and further charges if someone is hurt. There is no grace period: the record expires on its date.
A lapsed record also causes problems elsewhere. It will be one of the certificates the PRS Database asks for, insurers may refuse claims, and it is the first thing a council officer checks.
If your record has expired: do this today
- Book a Gas Safe engineer now. Check their registration on the Gas Safe Register website.
- Tell your tenant in writing when the engineer is coming, and keep a copy.
- If the tenant will not give access, keep evidence of every attempt: letters, emails, dates. Showing you took all reasonable steps is your defence.
- Give the tenant the new record within 28 days of the check.
- Upload the new record so your reminders are reset for next year.
Almost always it is a date nobody was watching: a new tenancy, a change of engineer, a year that went faster than expected. A reminder a month out is enough to prevent it.
Gas safety alongside the other certificates
| Certificate | How often | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record | Every 12 months | Criminal offence, unlimited fine |
| EICR | At least every 5 years | £40,000 |
| EPC | Valid 10 years; minimum E (C from Oct 2030) | £5,000 |
| Smoke and CO alarms | Working at the start of each tenancy | £5,000 |
General information for landlords in England, not legal advice. Figures are maximums; councils decide penalties case by case. Check GOV.UK or a solicitor for your situation.