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Landlord gas safety certificates (CP12)
If you let a property with gas in it, the law requires a gas safety check every twelve months, carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. We arrange these across Newham and the surrounding boroughs, and we work around your tenants rather than expecting them to work around us.
The legal basics
What the law actually requires of you
The rules are simpler than most landlord guidance makes them sound. As the landlord you must:
- Have every gas appliance and flue in the property checked for safety every twelve months
- Use an engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register, not just any plumber
- Give a copy of the record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check
- Give a copy to new tenants before they move in
- Keep the records for two years
The certificate covers safety, not condition. It tells you whether the appliances are safe to use right now. It is a different thing from an annual boiler service, which is about keeping the boiler working and keeping the manufacturer warranty valid. Most landlords want both, and we can do them in the same visit rather than paying for two appointments.
Failing to hold a valid record is a criminal offence, and it can affect your buildings insurance and your position if you ever need to take possession of the property. The requirements around possession have tightened recently, so if your certificates have slipped, it is worth getting current now rather than finding out later.
What we check
What happens during the visit
A standard check on a flat with a combi boiler and a gas hob takes around half an hour to forty five minutes. More appliances means longer.
Every gas appliance
Boiler, hob, oven, gas fire, water heater. We check each one is burning correctly, at the right gas pressure, and that the safety devices actually work rather than just being present.
Flues and ventilation
That combustion gases are going outside and not into the room, and that any required air vents exist and are not blocked or boarded over, which is common after building work.
Pipework and tightness
A tightness test on the installation to confirm nothing is leaking, plus a look at the condition of accessible pipework and the emergency control valve.
The paperwork
A record listing every appliance, the results, and anything that failed. Emailed to you the day it is issued, and to your tenant as well if you want us to handle that.
Newham, in particular
We know what borough compliance looks like around here
Newham has run private rented sector licensing across the whole borough for years, and it has licensed effectively all of its rental stock. If you let here, you are already used to being asked for documents, and a lapsed gas certificate is one of the easier things for a council officer to spot.
Practically, that means two things for us. We keep the paperwork clean and legible, because it gets read by other people. And we do not rely on the tenant remembering to pass anything on, because when it goes wrong, it is your name on the enforcement notice, not theirs.
Letting agents and portfolios
If you look after several properties, send us the list and we will work through them and flag renewal dates before they expire, so you are not chasing certificates the week a tenancy starts.
Common questions
Landlord questions we get asked
Is a CP12 the same as a gas safety certificate?
In everyday use, yes. CP12 was originally a form number and the name stuck. What the law requires is a gas safety record, and that is what we issue. If your agent asks for a CP12, this is the thing they mean.
My tenant will not give access. What can I do?
You are still legally responsible for getting the check done, which is an uncomfortable position. Keep a written record of every attempt you make to arrange access, in writing rather than by phone. We are flexible on timing, including evenings, which removes the most common genuine reason a tenant says no.
Does it cover the electrics too?
No. Gas and electrical safety are separate legal requirements with separate paperwork. A gas safety record says nothing about your wiring, and an electrical report says nothing about your gas. If you are unsure whether your electrical certification is current, ask us and we will tell you what you are missing.
What if an appliance fails the check?
We record it, explain what is wrong, and tell you what it takes to fix. If something is immediately dangerous we have to make it safe, which can mean disconnecting it, and we will explain exactly why before we do. You are not obliged to have us do the repair.
How much notice do you need?
Less than you probably think, but do not leave it to the last day of the twelve months. Give us a week if you can, more if the tenant is difficult to reach, and we will fit around them.
What does it cost?
It depends on how many gas appliances there are and whether you want a boiler service in the same visit. Tell us the property type and what gas appliances are in it and we will give you a figure on the phone.
This page explains the requirements in plain English, but it is not legal advice and the rules do change. The current position is always on the Gas Safe Register and GOV.UK websites, and it is worth a look if your circumstances are unusual.
Certificate due, or already overdue?
Tell us the address and what gas appliances are in the property. We will price it and book around your tenant.