Guides · Updated 11 June 2026
CP12 gas safety certificates: a landlord's guide
The short answer
A CP12, formally a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is the document a Gas Safe registered engineer issues after checking every gas appliance, flue and visible pipework in a rental property. UK landlords must have the check done every 12 months and give tenants a copy of the record.
What is a CP12?
CP12 is the industry name for the Landlord Gas Safety Record. It dates back to the old CORGI paperwork ("CORGI Proforma 12") and the name stuck. The record confirms that a Gas Safe registered engineer has inspected the gas appliances, flues and accessible pipework in a property and found them safe, or lists the defects found.
It is a legal requirement for rental properties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which apply across England and Wales.
Who needs one?
- Landlords letting any property with gas appliances, a gas meter or gas pipework, including houses, flats and HMOs.
- Agents managing property on a landlord's behalf (the duty can sit with the agent if the agreement says so).
- Owners of holiday lets and short-term rentals (the same rules apply).
- Homeowners don't legally need one, but an annual gas safety check is still strongly recommended.
What does the check cover?
- Every gas appliance the landlord provides (boiler, hob, oven, gas fire), tested for safe operation.
- Flues and chimneys checked for safe removal of combustion gases.
- Visible pipework inspected and the system tightness-tested for leaks.
- Ventilation to gas appliances confirmed as adequate.
How often, and what happens if you skip it?
Checks are due every 12 months. You can have the check done in the two months before the due date and keep the original deadline, so there's no advantage in leaving it late. Tenants must be given a copy of the record, and records should be kept for at least two years.
Letting without a valid gas safety record risks prosecution, substantial fines and invalidated landlord insurance. It is not a corner worth cutting.
What does a CP12 cost?
Across the UK in 2026, a standalone landlord gas safety check typically costs £60–£90. Bundling it with an annual boiler service in the same visit usually works out cheaper than booking the two separately, and bundling it with an electrical safety inspection (EICR) saves arranging two different contractors.
Zebra can handle CP12 and EICR appointments together: one visit, one invoice. We're Gas Safe and OFTEC OIL registered so you don't need separate contractors. Quotes are free and fixed.
Quick questions
Is a CP12 the same as a boiler service?
No. The CP12 is a safety inspection and a legal record; a boiler service is preventative maintenance. They're commonly done in the same visit, but a CP12 alone does not service the boiler.
Who can issue a CP12?
Only an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card. You can check the number on the official register.
How long does the check take?
Around 30–60 minutes for a typical property with a boiler and a hob, longer for HMOs or multiple appliances.
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