Gas safety when you rent your home
Your landlord must arrange annual gas safety checks and do repairs to keep your home safe. If they refuse, you can report them.
If you smell gas or think there's a gas leak, call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.
It’s free to call and available 24 hours a day.
Your landlord’s responsibilities
Maintenance and repairs
Your landlord must maintain and repair:
gas fittings
pipe work
any gas appliances they give you
Gas safety checks
Your landlord must arrange gas safety checks once a year.
Keeping gas appliances safe prevents fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
When a check is done, your landlord gets a gas safety record. When you move in, they must give you a copy of the existing record.
If safety checks are done while you're living there, your landlord must give you a copy of the record within 28 days.
Only a Gas Safe Registered installer can do gas safety checks, maintenance and repairs.
It’s dangerous for anyone else to do this, and it could be illegal.
If you’re concerned that someone doing gas work in your home is not registered, check the Gas Safe Register.
Carbon monoxide detectors
There must be a carbon monoxide detector in each room with a fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas fire or boiler. Your landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining it.
If your landlord has not done gas safety checks
Step 1: speak to your landlord informally
Ask your landlord for the gas safety certificate. It should say when checks were last done.
Step 2: if they do not give you the gas safety certificate
Ask your landlord to do a gas safety check in your home.
Use our template letter to ask for a gas safety check
Step 3: if your landlord will not do gas safety checks
Report them to the Health and Safety Executive
You'll need to provide:
your contact details
details of the gas appliances in your home
your landlord's contact details if you have them
what you’ve done to get your landlord to do the checks
To find your landlord's details, check your tenancy agreement or search the Scottish Landlord Register.
If your landlord will not do repairs or provide a carbon monoxide detector
Follow our guidance on:
Your responsibilities
Report any gas problems or repairs as soon as possible.
Allow the Gas Safe Registered installer into your home to carry out work.
Be aware of gas safety
Check for danger signs around gas appliances. These include:
sooty marks
pilot lights that blow out often
excessive condensation on windows
yellow or orange flames instead of blue
Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning. It can be caused by faulty appliances.
Check the NHS for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Contact your doctor if you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide.
Gas appliances you own
You’re responsible for repairs, maintenance and getting gas safety checks done.
Never carry out repairs or checks yourself. It’s dangerous and likely to be illegal.
Last updated: 20 July 2023
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.