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Landlord Safety Certificates and Inspections

Safety records and inspections

Find out which gas, electrical and energy checks your rental property needs, when to arrange them and which records to keep. If a check finds a fault, follow through with the repair.

Where is your property? The timing of checks and the rules for giving tenants copies differ across the UK. The sections below say where each rule applies and link to the official guidance.

Gas safety record

In Great Britain, a landlord must arrange an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances and flues the landlord provides for tenants. The record is often called a CP12, although the legal document is the landlord gas safety record. Give the record to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in, and act promptly on defects.

Northern Ireland has its own official gas-safety guidance with similar core duties. Use the Northern Ireland guidance linked below for a property there.

Read the gas safety service guide.

Electrical inspection and EICR

In England, landlords within the electrical safety regulations must ensure installations are inspected and tested by a properly qualified person at least every five years, obtain a report — usually an EICR — and supply copies within the prescribed times. The report may set an earlier next-inspection date. A C1 or C2 code means action is needed; FI means further investigation is needed. C3 means an improvement is recommended.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also have electrical-safety requirements, but the fitness, repairing-standard, tenancy and copy rules are not identical.

Read the EICR service guide.

Energy Performance Certificate

An EPC is an energy assessment, not a safety certificate. It gives an energy rating and recommendations. In England and Wales, a valid EPC is normally required when marketing a property, and covered domestic rented property must generally reach the current minimum standard or have a valid registered exemption. The current minimum is EPC E. Check the official guidance for updates to proposed higher standards.

Read the EPC service guide.

Alarms and fire safety

Smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm requirements vary by nation, fuel and property type. HMOs, flats and higher-risk buildings can have additional fire-safety and licensing duties. Keep records of alarm tests and any fire-risk assessment alongside your other safety documents.

Keep these records together

  1. Put the next inspection date in your calendar and book ahead.
  2. Check the engineer’s registration or inspector’s qualifications and save their details.
  3. Keep the full report, not just a booking receipt or cover page.
  4. Keep a note of when you gave each tenant their copy.
  5. For each fault, record who will fix it, when it was repaired and the written confirmation.
  6. Check safety again after a complaint, incident, major work or change in who lives at the property. Some problems need action before the next scheduled inspection.

Official sources

Damp and mould in Scotland

Damp and mould also need attention. From 6 October 2026, Scotland introduces specific damp-and-mould response times for covered homes. See which homes are covered and what to do.