CP12 (Gas Safety Record)

Why it matters

What CP12 (Gas Safety Record) means for a landlord

The gas safety record is the document that shows a landlord met the annual check duty. Because the duty is a criminal offence rather than a civil penalty, HSE can prosecute even where no tenant has complained. The parts that catch landlords out are giving the tenant a copy on time and letting the renewal slip past the anniversary. Since 2018 a check carried out in the two months before the due date keeps the original anniversary, so there is no reason to cut it fine. Before 1 May 2026 a missing record also blocked a Section 21 notice; that route has gone, but the criminal liability has not.

Worked example

How it plays out

Common mistakes

Where landlords go wrong

1. 01Booking the check for the week it is due, leaving no time if the engineer cannot get in.
2. 02Giving the tenant a copy late, or with no record of when it was sent.
3. 03Using an engineer without checking the Gas Safe Register, including the type of work they are registered for.
4. 04Forgetting a gas fire the tenant rarely uses: every gas appliance and flue you provide must be checked.

What to do

A short checklist

• Book each gas check about six weeks before the due date, inside the two-month window.
• Check the engineer’s Gas Safe card and registration before the visit.
• Email each new record to the tenant the same day and keep the sent message.
• Keep every record for at least two years, as the regulations require.