Gas safety myths landlords still believe

The most common landlord gas safety myths are that the tenant is responsible, that a certificate lasts more than a year, that you can do the check yourself, and that older or rarely-used appliances are exempt. None is true: the duty sits with the landlord, the record lasts 12 months, and only a Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out the check.

Myth: gas safety is the tenant's responsibility

The landlord holds the legal duty to have the annual gas safety check done and to keep the appliances they provide safe. You can ask a tenant to allow access, but you can't pass the responsibility to them. If a tenant refuses access, the answer is to document your attempts, not to give up.

Myth: the certificate lasts until I get round to it

A gas safety record is valid for 12 months, and there's no grace period. The day it lapses you're in breach of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, even if every appliance is working perfectly. Track the next-due date, not the date of the last check.

Myth: I can do the check myself

Only a Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out the check and issue a valid record. It doesn't matter how handy you are; a check by anyone else is worthless and potentially dangerous. Always check the engineer's Gas Safe ID card.

Myth: old or unused appliances don't count

The duty covers the gas appliances and flues you provide, regardless of age, and an appliance that's rarely used still needs to be safe. If you genuinely take an appliance out of use, do it properly; don't just assume it's out of scope.

Myth: a certificate means everything's covered

The check confirms the appliances are safe at the time of the check; it isn't a warranty, and it doesn't cover electrical safety (that's an EICR) or general maintenance. Treat it as one part of keeping a property safe, not the whole of it.