Landlord gas safety certificate (CP12) in North West London

What is a landlord gas safety check?

In England, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require landlords to have the gas appliances, fittings and flues they provide for tenants checked for safety every year. The check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

The annual check covers the appliances and flues you provide. Appliances that belong to a tenant are generally their own responsibility, although you usually remain responsible for the pipework and any flue that serves them.

Why is it called a CP12?

CP12 is the common name for the landlord gas safety record. The name comes from a form used before the Gas Safe Register existed, and it has stuck. It records each appliance checked, the result, any defects found and the engineer's Gas Safe registration number.

The engineer we pass enquiries to carries out landlord gas safety checks and issues the record, so you can ask for both in one enquiry.

What does the engineer check?

A typical check includes:

• the appliances themselves, such as the boiler, gas hob or cooker and any gas fire
• flues and chimneys, to confirm fumes are carried safely out of the property
• ventilation, so each appliance has enough air to burn gas properly
• the gas pressure or heat input at each appliance
• safety devices, such as those that shut off the gas if a flame goes out
• the gas pipework, usually with a tightness test for leaks

What happens if something is unsafe?

Engineers follow an industry procedure for unsafe situations. An appliance may be classed as At Risk, where a fault could become dangerous, or Immediately Dangerous, where leaving it connected is a danger to life or property. The engineer will explain the problem and attach a warning notice.

For a dangerous appliance, the engineer may need to turn it off or disconnect it from the gas supply, and will ask for permission to do so. The appliance should not be used until it has been repaired.

When do I need to give tenants the record?

• give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of the check
• give new tenants a copy before they move in
• keep each record for at least two years

Can I have the check done early?

Yes. You can have the check done up to two months before the deadline and keep the original expiry date, so you do not lose time from the year. If you use this option, you may need to keep records for longer, until two further checks have been done.

Is a gas safety check the same as a boiler service?

No. A gas safety check confirms that appliances are safe to use at the time of the check. A boiler service goes further, cleaning and adjusting the boiler to keep it working well and meet most manufacturer warranties. Many landlords ask for both in the same visit, so mention it in your enquiry if you would like a service as well.

What about HMOs and letting agents?

The same annual check applies to houses in multiple occupation, and the council may ask to see the gas safety record as part of HMO licensing. If a letting agent manages your property, check the management agreement to see who is responsible for arranging the check. Agents are welcome to send an enquiry on a landlord's behalf. In Brent, the council's selective licensing covers most privately rented homes, and the application asks for a current gas safety certificate. Flats in converted houses, common in Ealing, each need their own check and record when each has its own boiler.

What should I tell the engineer?

Useful details are:

• how many properties need a check, and their postcodes
• how many gas appliances are in each property, such as a boiler, hob and gas fire
• access arrangements, such as whether you, an agent or the tenant will let the engineer in
• a tenant contact, if the tenant has agreed to be contacted
• the date of the previous gas safety record, so the new check can be timed correctly

What happens after I send an enquiry?

We pass your enquiry to one local Gas Safe registered heating engineer who covers your postcode in Harrow, Brent, Barnet or Ealing. The engineer contacts you to arrange the check and agrees any price with you directly. Asking is free and there is no obligation.

We are an independent enquiry service, not a heating company. The engineer may pay us a fee for the introduction.

What if I or my tenant smells gas?

Do not wait for a call back. Leave the property, do not use electrical switches or naked flames, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It is free and open 24 hours a day.