Landlord gas safety certificates in Bristol

If you let a house or flat in Bristol with gas appliances, you have a legal duty to keep those appliances safe. The annual gas safety check is the core of that duty. In parts of Bristol, licensing schemes add another layer.

This guide sets out the rules, what the record must show, and how they fit with Bristol City Council licensing in places like Easton.

The legal duty

The Health and Safety Executive explains the duties set out in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In short, landlords must:

• Have every gas appliance, fitting and flue they provide checked for safety every 12 months
• Have the check done by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• Keep a record of each check for at least two years
• Give a copy of the record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check
• Give a copy to new tenants before they move in
• Make sure appliances are maintained in a safe condition

Appliances a tenant owns, such as their own gas cooker, are the tenant’s responsibility. But the pipework and any flue serving it may still be yours to check.

What the record should show

The gas safety record, often called a CP12 after an old form name, should include:

Detail	What it means
Property address and landlord details	Who the record is for
Engineer’s name, signature and Gas Safe number	Who did the check
Date of the check	Sets the next deadline
Each appliance and flue checked	Boiler, hob, fire, and their location
Results of each check	Whether it is safe, and any defects found
Action taken or needed	What was fixed or what must be fixed

If an engineer finds an appliance unsafe, they may label it and, with your consent, turn it off. Some faults are serious enough that they will disconnect it. It must not be used until it is repaired.

Checking the engineer

Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Ask for their Gas Safe ID card and check the number on the Gas Safe Register. The back of the card lists the types of work they are qualified to do. Make sure it covers the appliances in your property, for example a boiler and a gas hob.

Bristol licensing on top of the national rules

Bristol City Council runs property licensing schemes. According to the council’s types of property licence page:

• Citywide additional HMO licensing applies to houses in multiple occupation across the city.
• Selective licensing in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, and Easton wards came into effect on 6 August 2024. Most privately rented homes in those wards need a licence.
• Additional and selective licensing applies in Bedminster and Brislington West wards.

Licensing schemes generally ask for proof that the property is safe, and a current gas safety record is part of that. Check the scheme conditions on the council’s pages, as they set out exactly what is needed and when.

Renting in Easton

Easton has a lot of tight Victorian terraces, many built of Pennant stone or brick, with a high share of private rented homes. Typical set ups:

• A combi boiler in the back kitchen, flue through the rear wall into a narrow yard
• A gas hob in the same kitchen
• Older homes with a gas fire still in a front room
• Houses split into flats with long flue runs or boilers in cupboards

Flues in tight back yards need care. The flue terminal must be clear of windows, doors and openings, and the check confirms this. Where a boiler is in a cupboard, the engineer checks ventilation and access.

Other duties at the same time

A gas safety check is only one part of being a landlord. Others include:

• Electrical safety: in England, private landlords need an electrical installation condition report (EICR) at least every five years.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: required under separate regulations. A carbon monoxide alarm is needed in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance, apart from gas cookers.
• Water safety: a legionella risk assessment, which is about how stored and unused water is managed.

Bristol’s hard water also matters for landlords. Scale shortens the life of combi boilers and taps, which leads to call outs between tenancies. Our guide on Bristol’s hard water and plumbing explains the simple steps that cut repairs.

Timing and booking

• Book the check before the 12 month deadline. The HSE allows it up to two months early while keeping the original expiry date.
• Combine it with a boiler service if the boiler is due. See our guide on boiler servicing in Bristol.
• Give tenants proper notice of the visit.
• Keep copies of all records and any letters if access is refused.

What affects the cost

We confirm the price before booking. It depends on:

• The number of gas appliances to check
• Whether a boiler service is done at the same time
• Whether any faults are found that need repair
• Access, for example a loft boiler or a top floor flat

If the check finds a fault

If a fault is found, the engineer will tell you what is needed. Some faults can be fixed on the day. Others need parts. Our boiler repair page explains how repairs are handled.

The short version

Every 12 months, every landlord gas appliance needs a safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with a record given to tenants. In Easton, Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, Bedminster and Brislington West, licensing adds its own conditions. Keep your records, book early, and fix faults straight away.