Short answer: Private landlords in England need two separate safety checks. A gas safety record every 12 months, done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and an electrical installation condition report (EICR) at least every five years, done by a qualified electrician. Tenants must get copies of both. They run on different cycles, so keep one calendar for every property.
London landlords juggle a lot of paperwork. Two of the most important documents are the gas safety record and the electrical installation condition report. They are often mentioned together, but they are separate checks, by different trades, on different cycles.
The two checks side by side
| Gas safety record (CP12) | EICR | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 | Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 |
| How often | Every 12 months | At least every 5 years, or sooner if the report says |
| Who does it | Gas Safe registered engineer | Qualified and competent electrician |
| What it covers | Every gas appliance and flue you provide | The fixed electrical installation: wiring, sockets, consumer unit |
| Copy to tenants | Within 28 days, new tenants before moving in | Within 28 days, new tenants before moving in |
The gas safety record
The HSE landlord guidance says every gas appliance and flue you provide must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Keep records for at least two years. You can renew up to two months early and keep the original expiry date. Our post on the landlord gas safety certificate covers the full rules.
The EICR
The gov.uk guidance on electrical safety standards explains the electrical rules. Private landlords in England must have the fixed electrical installation inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person. The report must go to tenants, and to the local council if they ask for it. If the report finds work is needed, it must be done within the timescale set out in the rules.
The EICR uses codes to flag problems. Codes that mean danger or potential danger need fixing. Others are advisory.
Where the two meet: the boiler
A gas boiler sits on both sides. Its gas supply, burner and flue are covered by the gas safety check. Its electrical supply, usually a fused spur near the boiler, is part of the fixed installation an EICR looks at.
That is why the trades sometimes overlap at a visit. A gas engineer may notice a damaged fused spur. An electrician may notice a boiler with scorch marks. Each should report what they see, but neither is checking the other’s work.
Keeping both on one calendar
Because the cycles differ, it is easy for one to slip. A simple table per property helps:
| Property | Gas record due | Last service | EICR due | CO alarms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 1 | 30 June | 30 June | March 2029 | Each new tenancy |
| Flat 2 | 30 June | 30 June | March 2029 | Each new tenancy |
Many landlords book the gas safety check and boiler service together every year, and put the EICR date in the same calendar five years ahead. When a tenancy changes, it is a good moment to check both are in date.
Older London houses
In places like Streatham, many lets are in Edwardian and interwar houses that have been split into flats. These often have older wiring and heating systems that have grown over decades. The EICR may find older consumer units or wiring that needs updating, and the gas engineer may find older open vented systems with sludge in the radiators. Our Streatham area page covers the housing there.
Planning both checks in the same season lets you plan any follow up work together, for example when the property is empty between tenants.
HMOs
If you let a house in multiple occupation, your council licence will usually set conditions for both gas and electrical safety. London boroughs often ask for copies of the latest gas safety record and EICR with licence applications.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
A third set of rules sits alongside both. Since 1 October 2022, landlords in England must have at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. See our post on carbon monoxide alarm rules.
Booking
For the gas side, our landlord service and CP12 page explains the check and lets you add a full boiler service. For the EICR, use a qualified electrician. You can check electricians through government approved schemes.
Gas work in the UK must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Check the engineer’s ID card and the number on the Gas Safe Register.
Quick checklist
- Gas safety record in date, copy given to tenants
- Boiler serviced in the last 12 months
- EICR in date, less than five years old
- Any EICR remedial work done and confirmed
- Smoke alarm on each storey
- CO alarm in rooms with a gas boiler or fire
- Alarms tested on the first day of the tenancy
Quick questions
Can a gas engineer do the EICR?
Only if they are also a qualified and competent electrical inspector. Usually these are two different trades.
Does an EICR cover the boiler?
It covers the fixed electrical installation, which includes the boiler's electrical supply, but not the gas side of the boiler.
Do owner occupiers need an EICR?
No legal duty, though it is good practice to have the wiring checked every ten years or when buying.
Last updated 23 October 2026. Written for homes in London. Rules can change, so check the linked sources for the latest position.