No, a change of tenant does not by itself require a new gas safety certificate. In England, the duty follows the appliance on a 12-month cycle, not the tenancy. If the record is still within 12 months of the check date, you give a copy to the new tenants. A fresh check is needed when that 12-month window runs out, whether the property is occupied or standing empty. All legal points below apply to England under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as amended.
Does a new tenant restart the 12-month clock?
No. The interval is set by regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as amended, which applies in England. Each gas appliance and flue in a rented property must be checked within 12 months of installation. After that, the gap between one check and the next must not exceed 12 months. The clock runs on the appliance, not on the tenancy agreement.
HSE states the same duty in tenancy terms. Before a new tenancy begins, a safety check must have been carried out within the previous 12 months. A record from the outgoing tenancy still counts while it sits inside that window. You copy it to the incoming tenants instead of booking a fresh check.
The gas safety record belongs to the property, not to the tenant. A change of occupier does not reset the 12-month interval. What matters is whether the record is still within 12 months of the check date on the day the new tenancy starts. Scope: England, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as amended.
Does an empty property still need a gas safety check?
Yes, if the due date falls before you let the property again. An empty flat does not pause the 12-month interval. If the record expires during the void, a Gas Safe registered engineer needs to carry out a check before the new tenants move in. Gas Safe registration is the legal requirement for anyone working on gas appliances.
The maintenance duty also continues while the property stands empty. HSE describes it as an ongoing programme of inspection and repair. Appliances, pipework and flues must be kept in a safe condition, not simply checked once a year. A void period is a sensible time to deal with anything the annual check flagged. Our guide on what the law actually requires of landlords covers the wider duties.
When is a fresh check sensible even though the record is current?
HSE recommends a further check before new tenants are given access in several situations. Each one involves something that may have changed since the last engineer visit.
- You suspect appliances have been tampered with, or the property was vandalised while empty.
- The outgoing tenant removed an appliance, such as a cooker, and may have left pipework open.
- An appliance has been left behind and you do not know who owns it.
- You are unsure whether the emergency control valve or any pipe end was left safe.
HSE also advises having the installation pipework inspected and tested for tightness before you relet. Any unsafe equipment should be repaired or removed before the new tenancy starts. All of that is work for a Gas Safe registered engineer. Nothing on this list is something you should attempt yourself.
Sorting out appliance ownership matters for the record itself. You are not responsible for an appliance the tenant owns. HSE still advises including any flue or chimney connected to a gas appliance in the check.
Can you bring the check forward without losing the renewal date?
Yes. Since the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, the annual check can be carried out up to two months before the due date. The original due date is kept, so the anniversary does not drift earlier each year.
A void between tenancies is the practical moment to use that allowance. Access is straightforward with no one living in the property. Fixed appliances are usually easy to reach when the rooms are empty. If your due date sits a few weeks after the new tenancy begins, the void window may still cover it.
Occupied properties are harder. You cannot force entry, and HSE expects you to show all reasonable steps if a tenant refuses access. That means written reminders, records of every attempt and an explanation of the legal duty.
Who gets a copy of the record, and when?
- New tenants get a copy before they move in.
- Existing tenants get a copy within 28 days of the check.
- You keep each record for at least two years.
- For occupancies under 28 days, display a clear copy prominently and state how an individual copy can be obtained.
Keeping old records has a second use. When a new tenancy starts mid-cycle, the previous record is the document you hand over. Two years of paperwork also shows the pattern of inspection and repair behind the appliance. If you let rooms individually, read our notes on gas safety in an HMO, where the duties work differently.
What else belongs on the between-tenancies list?
Carbon monoxide alarms are a separate duty in England. Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, in force since 1 October 2022, a CO alarm is required in every room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance. Gas cookers are excluded. Alarms must be tested on the first day of a new tenancy.
The safety check is not the same thing as a service. A check confirms the appliance is safe on the day. A service follows the manufacturer's instructions and covers condition and performance. We explain the split in gas safety check or boiler service.
Your repairing obligations for heating and hot water also carry on through the void. GOV.UK sets out what you must keep in working order for the property. A boiler that failed at the end of the last tenancy will not fix itself before the next one.
Should the heating stay on in an empty property?
Built-in frost protection only works when the boiler has power and is switched on. Baxi makes that point plainly in its winter advice. Turning everything off at the consumer unit removes the protection. For an empty property in cold weather, manufacturer guidance suggests setting the programmer to constant and the room thermostat to a low temperature.
There are a few things you can safely check yourself while the property is empty. Read the boiler pressure gauge. Check the thermostat and programmer settings. Press the reset button if the boiler has locked out. Bleed radiators that feel cold at the top.
Anything beyond that belongs to a registered engineer. Do not open the boiler casing or touch gas pipework or the flue. If the boiler will not restart, our guide on what to check before you call an engineer works through the usual causes.
FM Power is Gas Safe registered and works across London and the surrounding counties, seven days a week including evenings and weekends. If the record runs out during a void, you can arrange a landlord gas safety certificate (CP12) while the property is empty.
Sources
- HSE — Gas safety checks: what if…?
- HSE — Gas safety checks: who needs them?
- HSE — Gas safety check records and what to keep
- HSE — Maintenance: gas pipework
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 36
- HSE — Gas safety: landlords and letting agents FAQ
- GOV.UK — Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 guidance
- Baxi — How to protect your boiler in winter