Gas Safety Certificates in Gillingham

Gas Safety Requirements for Gillingham Landlords

The law is unambiguous. If you rent out a property in Gillingham that has a gas supply, you must arrange an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances, flues, and pipework. This applies whether you are a private landlord with one property or a portfolio investor with dozens of units across Medway.

Your specific obligations include:

• Annual inspection of all gas appliances you own or have provided in the property
• Gas safety record (CP12) to be given to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before they move in
• Records kept for two years — you must retain copies of gas safety certificates for at least two years
• Access arrangements — you must make reasonable efforts to gain access to the property for the inspection, and document those efforts if a tenant refuses access
• HMO compliance — if your Gillingham property is licensed as an HMO, a current gas safety certificate is a condition of your licence

Failure to comply can result in prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, fines of up to 20,000 per offence, and in the most serious cases, a criminal record. Medway Council's private sector housing team also monitors HMO compliance and can take enforcement action against landlords without valid certificates.

Our inspection covers:

• Every gas appliance — boilers, fires, cookers, hobs, and water heaters
• Flue integrity testing — ensuring combustion products are safely vented
• Ventilation assessment — confirming adequate air supply for safe combustion
• Gas pipework check — visual inspection for leaks, damage, and compliance
• Appliance safety controls — testing flame failure devices, thermocouples, and safety shut-off mechanisms
• CP12 certificate issued immediately upon satisfactory completion

How the Inspection Works

Step 1: Book Call 01634 979 595 to arrange a date. We work with landlords, letting agents, and tenants to find a time that suits everyone.

Step 2: Inspect Our engineer methodically inspects every gas appliance, flue, and section of accessible pipework. The inspection takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of appliances.

Step 3: Certify If all appliances pass, the CP12 is issued on the spot. Copies are left for the tenant and provided to the landlord.

Step 4: Remedial Action (if required) If any appliance fails, we classify the defect, explain the situation, and can usually carry out repairs promptly to allow the certificate to be issued without significant delay.

Gas Safety in Gillingham's Diverse Rental Stock

Gillingham's rental market spans the full range of property types, and the gas safety challenges vary accordingly.

The HMOs concentrated in the streets near Gillingham station and along Canterbury Street, Jeffrey Street, and the surrounding roads typically contain multiple gas appliances — often a boiler in one location and gas cookers in shared kitchens. Some HMOs also have gas fires in individual rooms. Each appliance must be inspected, and the inspection takes longer in properties with numerous appliances spread across several floors.

The council-built maisonettes and flats in Twydall and Parkwood are commonly let as affordable housing. These properties usually have a single boiler and sometimes a gas hob. The key gas safety consideration in these buildings is flue integrity — many have balanced flue terminals that can become blocked or damaged, and shared ducting in blocks of flats needs to be checked for integrity.

The family homes in Hempstead and Wigmore that are let on the private rental market are generally well-maintained properties with modern boilers. Gas safety inspections in these homes are typically straightforward, but the annual check remains essential for legal compliance and tenant safety.

Across all property types in Gillingham, our engineers approach every inspection with the same thoroughness. A gas appliance that appears to be working normally can still have a dangerous fault that is only detectable through proper testing — this is exactly why the annual inspection exists.