The safety certificates your landlord must give you
Gas safety record every year, an electrical report every five years, an EPC rated E or better, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. What you should have been given, when, and what to do if you were not.
England. Checked against the law on 27 September 2026. Information, not legal advice.
Four things you are entitled to
| What | How often | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record (CP12), from a Gas Safe engineer | every 12 months | before you move in, and within 28 days of each yearly check |
| Electrical report (EICR) | every 5 years | before you move in; a new one within 28 days of the next inspection |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), band E or better | valid 10 years | before you sign |
| Smoke alarm on every floor, CO alarm in any room with a boiler or fire | tested on day one | working when the tenancy starts; repaired when you report a fault |
If you were not given them
Ask in writing. A dated email or message is enough. Keep the reply. If nothing comes:
- Gas: letting without a valid record is a criminal offence. The council's private sector housing team can inspect. If you smell gas, call the emergency number first.
- Electrical: the council can fine the landlord up to £40,000 for no EICR or for ignoring remedial work.
- EPC: any address's EPC is on the public register, so you can check it yourself. Letting below band E carries a penalty of up to £5,000.
- Alarms: a civil penalty of up to £5,000. Report a broken alarm in writing; the landlord must repair it.
Why it also matters for possession
A landlord who has not given you the gas record cannot rely on some possession grounds until they put it right. If you receive a notice, run the tenant check first and take the result to a free adviser.
What MyLandlordPA does
If your landlord uses MyLandlordPA, each certificate is served to you through the portal with a dated record you can both see. If they do not, your own record on MyLandlordPA keeps what you were given and when.
Questions tenants ask
How do I know if a gas engineer is Gas Safe registered?
The gas safety record shows the engineer's Gas Safe registration number. You can check it on the Gas Safe Register website. If there is no number, ask.
The landlord says the EICR is fine but will not send it. What now?
Ask in writing for the report itself. You are entitled to a copy. If it does not come, the council can require it and fine the landlord.
Do I have to let the engineer in?
Give reasonable access for the yearly gas check and other safety inspections; the landlord must give you notice and a sensible time. Refusing access can count against you if there is a later dispute.
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