Is your boiler back on?

It’s that time of year when gas safety should be front of mind for landlords in the North East…and not just because it’s a bit chilly!

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) is the annual confirmation that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property have been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer and are safe to use.

For private landlords in Scotland, it’s a legal requirement…without a grace period.

The certificate must be renewed every 12 months with a copy being shared with your tenants within 28 days of the inspection being completed (or before a new tenant moves in) If you’re starting a new tenancy, the certificate must be shared before they get the keys.

If you – as a landlord – fail to do this, you’re immediately in breach of your obligation and are exposed to enforcement, may jeopardise your landlord insurance and may potentially face a referral to the First-tier Tribunal.

Beyond landlord legalities

The legal consequences of an expired CP12 are significant but they’re not the only reason to take this seriously.

Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and lethal. A faulty gas appliance or flue that hasn’t been professionally checked can put tenants at serious risk without any visible warning signs. An annual gas safety check isn’t just a box ticking exercise, it’s potentially life saving.

What the check covers

A Gas Safe registered engineer will inspect and test all gas appliances in the property – the boiler, gas hob, fire and any other fixed gas appliances including flues and pipework. They check for gas tightness, safe operation, adequate ventilation and that appliances are burning correctly.

It typically takes between 30 and 90 minutes depending on the number of appliances.

What about carbon monoxide alarms?

Since February 2022, Scottish landlords have been required to have carbon monoxide detectors in every room that contains a fixed combustion appliance (gas boilers, gas fires, wood-burning stoves) and should be tested and confirmed as working at the start of every tenancy.

The annual gas safety check is a good opportunity to confirm your CO alarms are in place, functioning and up to date.

The wider compliance picture

Gas safety sits alongside a suite of other compliance requirements for Scottish landlords such as EICR, EPC, Legionella risk assessment, smoke alarms and tenancy deposit protection. Each has its own renewal timeline, documentation requirement and its own consequences if it lapses.

How EPIC can help

EPIC manages gas safety checks for landlords across Aberdeen city and shire as part of our full compliance service. We offer peace of mind by scheduling the annual inspection with a reputable Gas Safe registered engineer and ensure the certificate is issued and provided to tenants correctly and on time.

That’s not all we can help with.

✅ Annual gas safety checks (CP12)

✅ Carbon monoxide alarm compliance

✅ Full compliance management – EICR, EPC, Legionella and more

✅ Documentation and paper trail kept on your behalf

If your CP12 is due (or you're not entirely sure when it's due!) get in touch. We'll find out and sort it.

01224 645 500 | info@epicpropertyservicesaberdeen.co.uk | LinkedIn