What is a CP12 and when do landlords need one?

A CP12, properly called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is the annual gas safety certificate that landlords must legally hold for every rented property with gas appliances. It confirms a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked each appliance and flue. It must be renewed every 12 months, and a copy given to tenants within 28 days of the check (and to new tenants before they move in).

Who needs one

You need a valid CP12 if you let out a property with any gas appliance (a boiler, gas fire, or gas cooker), including through a letting agent. The legal duty sits with the landlord under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

What we check

• Each gas appliance for safe operation and correct pressure
• Flues and ventilation
• That there are no dangerous installations

How long you need to keep the record

You must keep the record of each gas safety check for at least 2 years. Since the check itself is annual, that means most landlords end up holding the current certificate plus at least one previous one for every property, ready to show a tenant, a letting agent or the local authority if asked.

What happens if you do not have one

A CP12 is not optional paperwork. It is a legal duty under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and letting a property with gas appliances without a valid, current check is a criminal offence, enforced under health and safety law. It can mean prosecution and a significant fine, and it also leaves a landlord unable to show an appliance was ever checked if something later goes wrong with it. Beyond the legal exposure, the unchecked appliance is the real hazard the rule exists to prevent, so it is worth treating the CP12 as a safety essential rather than a box to tick.

CP12s for HMOs

The same annual duty applies to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), covering every gas appliance in the shared parts of the property as well as each let room. Where a property holds an HMO licence, the council will typically expect to see a current, valid gas safety record as a condition of that licence, so letting it lapse can put the licence itself at risk, not just your compliance with the safety regulations. With several tenants and shared appliances under one roof, keeping the certificate current matters even more than in a single-let home.

Staying compliant without the admin

We make landlord compliance easy:

• Instant certificates issued from site
• Automatic reminders before each certificate is due
• Portfolio-friendly: multiple properties on one consolidated invoice

Managing several properties? See our landlord gas safety certificate service or talk to us about landlord cover.