Gas safety records

CP12 vs gas safety certificate: what's the difference?

There's no real difference, they're names for the same document. “CP12” is the historic form code, “Landlord Gas Safety Record” is its official name, and “gas safety certificate” is the everyday term. All refer to the record a Gas Safe registered engineer issues after a gas safety check.

Same document, three names

The confusion is purely in the language. “CP12” comes from the old CORGI form number and stuck in the trade. The document's formal name is the Landlord Gas Safety Record. Landlords and tenants tend to say “gas safety certificate”. They all describe the same thing.

The one distinction worth knowing

The meaningful difference isn't in the name but in who the check is for:

Landlord Gas Safety Record (CP12): the legally required annual record for a rented property.
Homeowner gas safety record: the same style of check arranged voluntarily by an owner-occupier, no legal duty, but a genuine safety check.
In both cases the check is carried out and the record issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Strictly, it's a record of a check rather than a “certificate” in the pass/fail sense, but “gas safety certificate” is so widely used that fighting the term isn't worth it. What matters is that a registered engineer did the check.

Frequently asked

Is a CP12 a legal document?

Yes. For a rented property, the Landlord Gas Safety Record (CP12) is the evidence a landlord needs to show they've met their annual duty under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Why is it called CP12?

“CP12” was the reference for the old CORGI Compliance Publication form used to record landlord gas safety checks. CORGI was replaced by Gas Safe Register in 2009, but the name carried over and is still used across the trade.

Do homeowners get a CP12?

They can. There's no legal requirement for an owner-occupier to have an annual gas safety check, but you can arrange the same check and receive a record of it, often called a homeowner gas safety record.

Sources

Last reviewed July 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or safety advice, gas safety work must be carried out by an appropriately Gas Safe registered engineer. Rules can change, so check the linked official sources for the current position.

Spend less of your evening on this.

Manifold does CP12s on the doorstep and chases the renewals for you. It’s in early access for UK gas engineers, no card, just your first look.