How to get your gas and electrical safety records from your landlord
Key points
- Your landlord must give you a copy of the annual gas safety record within 28 days of each check — and before you move in to any new home.
- Your landlord must give you a copy of the 5-yearly electrical inspection report (EICR) within 28 days of the inspection.
- Since 1 May 2026, you can ask for these records without the risk of your landlord using a no-fault eviction notice.
Every private rented home with a gas supply must have an annual gas safety check. Your landlord must arrange this each year. A Gas Safe registered engineer carries out the check and writes up a gas safety record.
Your landlord must give you a copy of this record within 28 days of the check. If you are moving into a new home, you must receive it before you move in.
What the gas safety record shows
The record shows the date of the check, the name of the engineer, and whether the gas appliances in your home are safe to use. Keep your copy somewhere safe. If a problem comes up later, you can check when the last inspection took place.
The electrical safety check
Your landlord must also arrange an electrical safety check at least every 5 years. A qualified electrician inspects the wiring, sockets, and consumer unit. They then produce an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
Your landlord must give you a copy of the EICR within 28 days of the inspection. New tenants must receive it before they move in.
The EICR will say whether the electrical installation is satisfactory or whether work is needed. If work is required, your landlord must have it done within 28 days of the report.
How to ask for your records
You can ask your landlord in writing. A message, email, or letter is fine. Ask for:
- the most recent gas safety record
- the most recent electrical installation condition report (EICR)
You can also ask for records from previous checks. Landlords are required to keep gas safety records for at least 2 years.
Your landlord does not need a special reason to give these to you. They are yours by law.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →You can ask without fear
Before 1 May 2026, some tenants worried that asking questions could lead their landlord to issue a section 21 no-fault eviction notice. That power no longer exists. The Renters' Rights Act ended section 21 evictions in England from 1 May 2026.
This means you can ask your landlord for safety documents — and raise other concerns — without worrying they will use it as a reason to ask you to leave.
If your landlord does not provide the records
Contact your local council. Councils can investigate and have the power to issue fines to landlords who do not meet their safety duties.
If you are not sure what to do, Citizens Advice can talk you through the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What if my landlord will not give me the safety records?
Contact Citizens Advice — they can help you understand your options and explain how to report your landlord to the council.
Do these rules apply in Scotland and Wales?
Gas safety rules are the same across Great Britain, but electrical safety regulations differ — if you rent in Scotland or Wales, contact Shelter or your local council for advice.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/your-landlords-safety-responsibilities