Landlord gas safety in Sussex: checks, records and CO alarms

Getting the annual gas safety check booked is a good start. The next questions are whether it covers all the appliances you provide, whether servicing is due too, and whether your tenant has received the record.

For landlords around Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, keeping those things together makes the year much easier to manage. For tenants, knowing what to expect helps you ask the right questions and report a concern promptly.

The essentials: maintain the gas installation within your responsibility, arrange annual checks of the gas appliances and flues you provide, give tenants their records and meet the applicable alarm requirements. This guide covers rented homes in England.

What does the annual gas safety check cover?

The gas appliances and flues you provide for your tenants need an annual check by a Gas Safe registered engineer qualified for the work. That may include a gas fire or cooker as well as the boiler.

Make an appliance list before booking. A cooker tucked away in the kitchen is easy to leave out of a conversation about “the boiler certificate”, but it may still need to be included.

An appliance owned by the tenant is generally outside the landlord's appliance-check duty, although responsibility for the installation pipework may remain with the landlord. If an appliance was left by a previous tenant or the arrangement is unclear, establish responsibility before the next tenancy. HSE's appliance guidance explains these situations.

Is a service included, or do I need to book both?

A landlord safety check and a service have different purposes. The check records the results of the required safety checks. Servicing maintains the appliance in line with the manufacturer's requirements.

They can often be arranged for the same appointment, but say that you want both. Also mention any known faults, so the engineer can allow for investigation or repair where needed.

For a clearer idea of the work involved, read what happens during a boiler service. If you're arranging a visit with us, our landlord gas safety service page is a useful starting point.

The record matters after the engineer leaves

The landlord gas safety record is often called a CP12 or gas safety certificate. It identifies the property, the engineer, what was checked, the findings and any safety-related action. Keep it somewhere you can find again, along with follow-up repair records.

In August 2026, Terry attended a landlord gas safety visit in Burgess Hill and sent the completed record to the managing agent afterwards. That final handover is an important part of the appointment: the people looking after the property need to know the outcome and any next steps.

The key timings are:

• Give existing tenants a copy within 28 days of the check.

• Give new tenants their copy before they move in.

• Keep records for at least two years. If you use the permitted early-check flexibility, keep the relevant record until two further checks have been completed.

An electronic copy is fine if the tenant agrees and can access it. Supply a paper copy if they ask. HSE's record guidance sets out the requirements.

What if the check finds a problem?

The engineer should explain the finding, what needs to happen next and whether an appliance must stay off. Ask for anything unclear to be put in plain English.

The check record should be issued once the checks are complete, even if repairs are still needed. Keep the repair information with it so you have the full history. An unsafe appliance must not be used while the problem remains unresolved. HSE explains how defects and records should be handled.

If a heating appliance is disconnected, HSE says the landlord must provide emergency heating while arranging appropriate remedial work. The guidance on dealing with tenants covers this. Our unsafe-boiler guide explains what an engineer turning an appliance off means for the household.

What are the CO alarm rules in England?

For homes covered by the regulations, landlords must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance, except a gas cooker. This can include rooms with a boiler, gas fire or relevant oil or solid-fuel appliance.

Required smoke and CO alarms must be checked and working on the day a new tenancy begins. Landlords must repair or replace alarms once they are informed and the alarm is found to be faulty. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and make sure the tenant knows how to test the alarm and report a problem. Read the government's alarm guidance.

The gas-cooker exception is part of those particular regulations. A cooker can still produce CO, so it should be properly installed and maintained. Our CO safety guide covers the wider precautions and what to do if an alarm sounds.

Arranging access without a last-minute rush

Start with the due date, then agree an appointment with the tenant or agent. Confirm who is attending, which appliances are included and who will receive the record. If a service is also due, get that into the booking.

If access is proving difficult, keep a record of your attempts and offer practical alternatives. You must not force entry. Our guide to arranging landlord gas safety checks goes through the booking and access side in more detail.

For tenants, the useful steps are to keep the current record, check the engineer's ID when they arrive and report appliance or alarm concerns promptly. An emergency needs immediate help, even if you are waiting for the landlord to respond.

Planning a check in Sussex?

Send our Smart Heat team the property area, appliance list and last check date through our contact page. Let us know about any faults and whether you want a service included, and we can help arrange the right visit.

For a suspected mains gas leak, leave and call 0800 111 999 from a safe place. Avoid switches, smoking and flames. For LPG leaks, use the supplier's emergency service; call 999 for fire or immediate danger to life. If a CO alarm activates, get outside and seek urgent advice. Our Gas Safety Week guide brings the household emergency advice together.