Gas Safety Certificates (CP12) for Devon Holiday Lets
A plain language overview of Gas Safety Certificates for holiday lets in Okehampton, Dartmoor, Exeter, Torquay and Torbay. What owners are responsible for, what engineers check and how to keep on top of annual renewals.
This guide is for general information only. It does not replace the Gas Safety Regulations, legal advice or a visit from a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate
A Gas Safety Certificate, often called a CP12, is the written record produced by a Gas Safe registered engineer after a safety inspection. For a holiday let it confirms what was checked on a specific date and whether any defects or warnings were found. It is not a guarantee that nothing can go wrong in the future, but it records the state of the installation on the day of the visit and any remedial work that is needed.
The legal basis is the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. These place a clear duty on landlords, including holiday let owners, to have gas fittings and appliances checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Holiday lets are treated as rented accommodation for these purposes regardless of how short the booking periods are.
Legal Requirements and How Often Checks Must Be Done
For rented properties in the UK, including short-stay holiday lets, a gas safety check must be carried out at least once every twelve months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The check is required whether the property is let for one week or fifty weeks of the year. There are no exemptions based on occupancy frequency.
Many owners choose to time the annual check before the main letting season begins so that any remedial work can be completed before guests arrive. Others align it with EICR or fire safety reviews to reduce the number of visits and disruption to cleaners, keyholders and letting agents.
Record keeping requirements
CP12 certificates must be kept for a minimum of two years. Owners are required to give a copy to new guests before they arrive or within 28 days of the check being completed to existing tenants. In practice, keeping a digital copy alongside the on-site paper copy means you can respond quickly to requests from letting agents, insurers or guests regardless of where you are.
What Devon Gas Engineers Actually Check
A gas safety inspection is more thorough than many owners expect. The engineer is not simply looking at the boiler: they are assessing the whole gas installation at the property on that day.
- Boiler and central heating system. Operational tests, flue integrity checks and gas pressure readings to confirm the boiler is running safely and efficiently.
- Cooking appliances. Gas hobs and ovens are checked for ignition reliability, flame stability and that burners are not partially blocked, a common issue in holiday lets where guests may be unfamiliar with the appliances.
- Gas fires and log-effect appliances. Particularly relevant for Devon holiday lets where log-effect gas fires are popular with guests. These require the same annual check as any other appliance.
- Pipework, joints and meter. Pressure tests to check for leaks, visual inspection of pipework routes and condition of joints.
- Ventilation and flue terminals. Checks that air bricks and purpose-provided ventilation are clear and that flue outlets at roof level or on external walls are intact and unobstructed.
Common Issues in Devon Holiday Lets
Older Devon properties and exposed locations on Dartmoor and the coast present particular challenges. Some of the patterns we see again and again include:
- Lapsed or fragmented certificates. Certificates held by different agents or contractors so no one has a full picture of what is current and what has expired. This is especially common when properties change letting agent or the owner self-manages part of the year.
- Flue and terminal problems. High winds, nesting birds or previous roofing work can affect flue terminations. In some cases appliances end up classified as At Risk or Not To Be Used until issues are resolved, which can mean an unexpected gap in the letting calendar.
- Ventilation blocked over time. Air bricks painted over during redecoration, vents covered by furniture or soft furnishings, or guests attempting to stop draughts without realising the safety function of the vent. This is a slow-build problem that may not be obvious until an engineer flags it.
- Paperwork stored only on site. Certificates left in a folder at the property with no digital copy makes it difficult to answer questions quickly when you are away from the property, or to verify compliance when dealing with a new letting agent.
- Old appliances not updated after renovation. A kitchen or bathroom refurbishment sometimes leaves legacy gas appliances in place without a concurrent check. Any change to the surrounding structure or flue route should prompt a follow-up safety review.
Simple Owner Actions Between Annual Checks
You do not need to be an engineer to keep good habits in place between annual visits. A few practical routines can reduce the chance of problems developing unnoticed:
- Keep the area around the boiler and gas appliances clear so engineers can access them easily and combustion air can move freely.
- Check that carbon monoxide alarms are present where required and tested regularly as part of changeover routines. Since October 2022, CO alarms have been legally required in England in rooms with fixed combustion appliances such as boilers.
- Make sure the location of the gas emergency control valve (shut-off) is clearly labelled and noted in your property information for cleaners, keyholders and guests.
- Keep user instructions for boilers and heating controls in a known and consistent place so guests are less likely to interfere with settings or shut down the system incorrectly.
- Ask cleaners or keyholders to flag any unusual smells, pilot light failures or appliance behaviour at changeover so they can be investigated promptly rather than left until the next annual check.
How Acacia Property Care Fits In
I do not carry out gas work and I do not issue CP12 certificates. That must always be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. My role is to make sure gas safety is not handled in isolation from the rest of the property, and to make sure it does not get missed in the gaps between other work.
As part of my wider compliance oversight I coordinate gas safety visits alongside EICR, fire safety checks and general property inspections, keep digital copies of certificates in one accessible place and highlight where something is approaching expiry or missing entirely. That gives owners a single, clear view of where the property stands rather than separate pieces of paper spread across contractors and email threads.
Joined-up scheduling
Where possible I arrange gas safety checks alongside other visits so engineers are not arriving separately and guests or cleaners are not disturbed on multiple occasions.
Central records and reminders
Certificates are stored digitally with expiry dates tracked so you can see at a glance what is current, what is approaching renewal and what needs attention before the next booking season.
If you prefer a single, structured view that brings gas safety together with EICR, fire precautions and general guest safety, my Holiday Let Compliance Audit service provides a photo-based report and priority list for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Gas Safety Certificate legally required for a holiday let?
Yes. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords of rented accommodation, including short-stay holiday lets, must arrange an annual gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The resulting certificate (often called a CP12) must be kept for at least two years and a copy made available to guests on request.
Who can carry out a gas safety check on my holiday let?
Only a Gas Safe registered engineer is legally permitted to carry out a gas safety inspection and issue a CP12 certificate. You can verify any engineer's registration and the appliances they are qualified to work on at the Gas Safe Register website (gassaferegister.co.uk). Always check registration before work begins.
What happens if a gas appliance is found to be unsafe?
If an engineer finds an appliance to be immediately dangerous it will typically be classified as 'Immediately Dangerous' (ID) or 'At Risk' (AR). An ID appliance should be disconnected on the spot or taken out of use. An AR appliance poses a risk that guests should be warned about and that must be rectified promptly. Either status will be noted on the CP12 and may affect your ability to let the property safely until the issue is resolved.
Do I need to keep a copy of the CP12 at the property?
A copy should be available to guests and kept for at least two years. Practically, you should hold both an on-site copy in the welcome folder and a digital copy stored somewhere you can access quickly if asked by a letting agent, insurer or guest before a visit. A digital copy is particularly useful if the on-site folder is removed or damaged.
Can gas safety checks be combined with other compliance visits?
Yes, and this is often the most cost-effective approach. Coordinating your annual CP12 check to coincide with an EICR, fire risk assessment review or general property inspection reduces disruption for cleaners and keyholders and often reduces overall cost. A compliance coordinator can help schedule these together and track expiry dates across all certificates in one place.
Not sure if your holiday let is actually covered?
If you're unsure what's current (CP12, EICR, alarms, basic fire info), start with a quick compliance check. You'll get a clear status summary and the next actions in priority order.
Download the Free Compliance ChecklistLocal Dartmoor & Devon properties only. No hard sell, just a clear view of where you stand.