Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) in Brighton and Hove

Every landlord in Brighton and Hove needs a gas safety check every 12 months under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out the work and issue the CP12 record. Missing the deadline can lead to a fine of up to £6,000, 6 months imprisonment, or both. The law applies to all rented homes with gas appliances, even if only one appliance is present.

Local market data shows why many landlords keep the check close to the tenancy changeover. homedata.co.uk records show 2,918 houses and flats were sold in Brighton and Hove in 2023, down from 4,339 the year before. The average price in March 2026 was £404,000, with detached homes at £843,000 and terraced homes at £470,000. Flats and maisonettes averaged £293,000, so a landlord can have very different property types in the same portfolio.

That spread affects scheduling as much as it affects value. A terraced property in Brighton and Hove can need the same annual CP12 as a detached home in Hove, but access, appliance count and tenancy timings often differ. We book around that deadline and keep the paperwork aligned with the tenancy start date. New tenants must receive the certificate before moving in, and existing tenants must get a copy within 28 days.

A failed check usually comes down to a fault we can see and test, not guesswork. Boiler faults, blocked flues and poor ventilation are common reasons an appliance cannot pass. In some homes the problem is simple, such as a damaged seal or a loose flue connection. In others the appliance needs to come out of service straight away.

Our engineers use the risk labels set out in gas safety guidance. 'At risk' means the appliance has a fault that could become dangerous, so we may stop it being used until repairs are done. 'Immediately dangerous' means there is a real risk of harm right now, and the appliance must be disconnected. That decision protects the people living there, and it also protects the landlord from leaving a known danger in place.

Once we record a failure, the landlord has to act quickly. Repairs need a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the CP12 cannot be issued as a passed certificate until the problem is fixed and retested. If a tenant is already in place, they should be told what the issue is and when the repair will happen. We can return to recheck the appliance after the work has been completed.

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer for a reason. You cannot see it or smell it, and a fault in a boiler or flue can let it build up without warning. Since October 2022, CO alarms have been mandatory in all rented properties that contain a fixed combustion appliance, and that includes gas boilers. For landlords in Brighton and Hove, that rule sits alongside the annual gas safety check.

Symptoms of CO poisoning can start with a headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness or confusion. Those signs can be mistaken for something else, which is why the alarm and the inspection matter so much. Poorly maintained appliances are the usual cause, especially where a burner has not been burning cleanly or the flue is not drawing properly. Our engineers look for those risks during the visit and flag anything that needs attention.

We also check whether an alarm is present in the right place, because a fitted alarm needs to be more than a box on the wall. The property should have one close to each relevant appliance, and the tenant should know what the alarm means if it sounds. In a rented flat, terraced house or maisonette, that simple check can make a real difference. We treat it as part of the same safety conversation, not an extra afterthought.

Homeowners in Brighton and Hove do not have a legal duty to book a CP12, but an annual gas check still makes sense. homedata.co.uk records show a March 2026 average of £843,000 for detached homes, £539,000 for semi-detached homes and £470,000 for terraced homes, so many owners have a lot invested in one property. A yearly inspection catches faults before they turn into breakdowns or unsafe operation. It also gives a clear record that the installation was checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Warranty terms often ask for regular servicing, and some home insurance policies can expect evidence that gas appliances have been maintained. That matters in a £293,000 flat just as much as in a higher-value house. If a boiler has started making noise, losing pressure or cutting out, a check can show whether the fault is minor or a sign of something larger. Our engineers can inspect the system and tell you what needs attention.

Brighton's housing market has seen 2,918 houses and flats sold in 2023, which shows how often homes change hands and how often owners move from one type of property to another. A homeowner in Brighton and Hove may carry over an old boiler, a gas fire or a cooker from a previous owner, and none of those should be left unchecked for years. Annual testing keeps a clear paper trail. It also makes future maintenance easier to plan.

Our gas safety certificate service starts from £60, which gives landlords a clear entry point for a straightforward CP12 appointment. The price depends on the number of gas appliances, the layout of the home and whether anything extra needs checking during the visit. A single boiler can be quicker and cheaper to inspect than a property with a boiler, cooker and gas fire. We price the work clearly so you know what is included before the engineer arrives.

After the visit, we issue the certificate promptly and send a copy that can be filed with the tenancy records. Landlords should pass a copy to new tenants before they move in, then give existing tenants a copy within 28 days. That paperwork matters just as much as the inspection itself, because it shows the legal duty has been met. In Brighton and Hove, where the average house price stood at £404,000 in March 2026, keeping the record straight is a small task with real value.