How often does a landlord gas safety certificate need renewing?

Every 12 months. A Gas Safe registered engineer must check every gas appliance and flue, and you must give the tenant a copy of the CP12 record within 28 days, or before a new tenant moves in.

How long is an EICR valid for a rented property?

An Electrical Installation Condition Report must be renewed at least every five years, or sooner if the report specifies. A copy goes to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in.

What EPC rating do I need to let a property?

In England and Wales a property generally needs an EPC rating of E or better to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered. EPCs last ten years.

What smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are required?

A smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker. Alarms must be tested on the first day of a new tenancy and repaired or replaced when reported faulty.

Guide · Landlords

Landlord compliance checklist: Gas Safety, EICR, EPC and alarms

Missing a renewal date is the most common — and most expensive — landlord mistake. This is the full set of documents, who can issue them, and how often they expire.

The checklist

Document	Who issues it	Renewal	Key detail
Gas Safety Record (CP12)	Gas Safe registered engineer	Every 12 months	Copy to tenant within 28 days, or before move-in.
EICR (electrical report)	Qualified electrician	At least every 5 years	Remedial work usually within 28 days of the report.
EPC	Accredited domestic energy assessor	Every 10 years	Minimum rating E in England and Wales unless exempt.
Smoke alarms	Landlord	Test at start of each tenancy	One per storey used as living accommodation.
Carbon monoxide alarms	Landlord	Test at start of each tenancy	Any room with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
PAT testing of supplied appliances	Competent person	No fixed interval; risk-based	Appliances you supply must be safe throughout the tenancy.

Why lapsed certificates cost more than the certificate

Beyond the safety risk, an out-of-date gas or electrical certificate exposes you to local authority enforcement and civil penalties, and failing to serve the required documents at the start of a tenancy can invalidate a Section 21 notice — leaving you unable to regain possession until the position is corrected.

Deposit adjudicators and insurers also ask for these documents. If you cannot produce the certificate that was in force on a given date, you are arguing from memory.

Serving the documents matters as much as holding them

For each tenancy you should be able to show that the tenant received the gas safety record, the EICR, the EPC, the government's How to Rent guide and deposit prescribed information — and when. Keep the evidence of service, not just the PDF.

How Mainto handles renewals

Mainto tracks Gas Safety, EICR, EPC and smoke and CO certificates per property with their expiry dates. You get automatic reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days before expiry, and a renewal job is drafted so a vetted local trade can be instructed without you starting from scratch. Tenants can see in-date certificates for their own home, which cuts a whole category of chasing emails.

Frequently asked questions

Stop tracking expiry dates in a spreadsheet

Add your properties, upload the current certificates, and Mainto reminds you before each one lapses — and drafts the renewal job.