The short answer, for England. Scotland and Wales have their own rules.
- Gas safety check
- Every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR
- At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says so.
- EPC
- Valid for 10 years, and needed before you let. Private lets usually need band E or above.
- Smoke and CO alarms
- In place, and checked on the day each tenancy starts.
Last checked 10 November 2026See the sources
On this page
How often each certificate is due
| Certificate | How often | Give the tenant | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record (CP12) | Every 12 months | Within 28 days of the check, or before a new tenant moves in | Criminal offence: a fine, or up to 2 years in prison |
| EICR | At least every 5 years | Within 28 days of the inspection, or before a new tenant moves in | £40,000 |
| EPC | Valid for 10 years. Needed before you market the home to let | Before they rent | £5,000 per property (rated below E) |
| Smoke and CO alarms | Checked on the day each tenancy starts | No document needed. Keep your own record of the check | £5,000 |
England, private and social landlords unless stated. The EPC minimum band applies to private lets.
Gas safety certificate: every 12 months
Every gas appliance and flue you provide needs a safety check no more than 12 months after the last one, by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register.
Before a new tenancy starts, there must have been a check in the previous 12 months.
Can I get my gas safety check done early?
Yes, within two months of the due date, and you keep the original date.
Due 31 March, done 10 February: still counts as 31 March. The next one is due by 31 March the following year. Any earlier and the 12 months restart from the day of the check.
What you hand over, and what you keep
Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of the check, and new tenants a copy before they move in. Keep each record until two more checks have been done.
For each check, note:
- the property and the engineer's Gas Safe number;
- the check date and the next due date;
- the date you gave the tenant their copy;
- any work the engineer flagged, and when it was done.
What if the tenant owns the cooker?
You're responsible for the pipework that feeds it. The tenant is responsible for checks on their own appliance.
What happens if a gas safety certificate expires?
Failing to keep up the checks breaks the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which is a criminal offence.
A court can fine you or, for the most serious cases, send you to prison for up to 2 years (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Schedule 3A).
EICR: landlord responsibilities, at least every 5 years
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a qualified electrician's inspection and test of the fixed wiring. You need one at least every 5 years, and the report sets the next date, which can be sooner.
- Existing tenants
- A copy within 28 days of the inspection.
- New tenants
- A copy before they move in.
- Anyone thinking of renting
- A copy within 28 days of asking.
- The council
- A copy within 7 days of asking.
Councils can fine a landlord up to £40,000 (electrical safety guidance).
If the report says work is needed
You have 28 days to finish the work, or less if the report says so. Then you have 28 days to send the tenant and the council the electrician's written confirmation that it's done.
For repairs the tenant reports between inspections, see how long a landlord has to fix a repair.
Is there an online EICR register?
Not in England. You can't look up a certificate by address the way you can an EPC. The copy is with you, your agent or the electrician who did it.
Social landlords
The same rules came into force for social housing on 1 November 2025. They apply to tenancies granted after 1 December 2025, and to older tenancies from 1 May 2026, whose first inspection was due before 1 November 2026. Social landlords also have to check the electrical equipment they provide, such as cookers, at least every 5 years.
EPC: valid for 10 years, needed before you let
An EPC rates a home from A to G and lasts 10 years. Get a valid certificate before marketing the property to let, and show it to prospective tenants. Look one up by postcode.
Private lets in England and Wales usually need band E or above, unless an exemption is registered.
The spending cap on improvements is £3,500. Letting a home rated F or G can bring a fine of up to £5,000 per property (guidance).
Is EPC C coming in?
Not yet, but the target is set.
In January 2026 the government confirmed it will require band C by 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 spending cap. It aims to bring the regulations into force in 2027 (government response).
The Energy Independence Bill, introduced in Parliament in November 2026, would raise the maximum fine to £30,000 (factsheet). None of this is law yet, so check gov.uk for the latest.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Smoke alarm
- On every storey with a room people live in.
- Carbon monoxide alarm
- In any of those rooms with a fixed appliance that burns fuel, such as a boiler or wood burner. Gas cookers don't count.
These rules have covered private and social landlords since 1 October 2022.
Check every alarm on the day a new tenancy starts. Keep evidence, such as the signed inventory.
Repair or replace an alarm when the tenant reports a fault.
The law sets no test schedule after day one, so show tenants how to test their alarms. A council can fine you up to £5,000 if you ignore a notice to fix one.