CP12 (Gas Safety Record)
The document issued after an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, commonly called a Gas Safety Certificate. Landlords must renew it every 12 months, give the tenant a copy within 28 days of the check, and give new tenants a copy before they move in. Non-compliance is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
At a glance
- Renewal
- Every 12 months
- Tenant copy
- Within 28 days of the check
- New tenants
- Copy before move-in
- Enforcement
- Criminal offence + unlimited fine
- Law
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on CP12 (Gas Safety Record)
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy CP12 (Gas Safety Record) matters for landlords
The CP12 is the single piece of paper that decides whether a landlord has a legal defence after a gas incident. Because the duty is framed as a criminal offence rather than a civil penalty, prosecution can follow even where no tenant complaint was raised. The 28-day tenant-copy and pre-tenancy rules are the parts that catch landlords out most often — a valid certificate that was never given to the tenant is still a breach, and it blocks possession routes that depend on a compliant tenancy setup.
Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Gas Safe Register
The official register of gas engineers qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances in the UK. Only Gas Safe registered engineers can carry out the annual gas safety check required for rental properties. Verify an engineer's registration at gassaferegister.co.uk before any work starts.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Tax on the profit from selling a rental property. From April 2024 the CGT annual exempt amount was reduced to £3,000 and residential property gains are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate). A CGT return must be filed and tax paid within 60 days of completion.
CO Alarm (Carbon Monoxide Alarm)
Required from 1 October 2022 in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in private rented homes in England. The landlord must ensure an alarm is present and in working order at the start of each tenancy. Maximum civil penalty: £5,000 per property.
Compliance Score
A 0-100 score LetCompliance assigns to each property based on how up-to-date its safety certificates and tenancy documents are. 100 means Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection and Right to Rent are all current; the score drops as deadlines approach and is recalculated daily.
Council Tax
The tax charged on residential property by the local authority. Tenants are usually liable while the property is let as their main residence. Landlords become liable during void periods and for most HMOs (where each tenant has their own AST).
Accelerated Possession
A fast-track court procedure used under a Section 21 notice in England and Wales. Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026 because Section 21 no longer exists. Possession is now pursued under Section 8 using a specified ground.