It is a legal requirement for all rental properties to have an Annual Gas safety check.

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of being installed, and thereafter at least every 12 months by a competent engineer (e.g. a Gas Safe registered gas installer).

Maintenance: There is a duty to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and associated

pipework are maintained in a safe condition at all times.

Records: Full records must be kept for at least 2 years of the inspections of each appliance and flue, of any defects found and of any remedial action taken.

Copies to tenants: A copy of the safety certificate issued by the engineer must be given to each new tenant before their tenancy commences, or to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being carried out.

The government has agreed that Gas Safety Inspections can be carried out 2 months before the annual review date and like the MOT certificate you have for your car, they should soon be able to retain the original annual review date. This means landlords will not have to wait to the last minute to have the inspection carried out.