Gas safety records, EICRs and EPCs: what the register needs from each
Updated · Information, not legal advice
Short answer
For each let property, the register asks for a copy of the gas safety record and its issue date (if there is a gas supply), a copy of the EICR and the date the next inspection is due (or an appropriate EIC and its issue date), and a copy of the most recent EPC where you had to give one to the tenant. If the EPC is below the minimum rating, it also asks whether a MEES exemption is registered.
Three certificates make up most of the safety section of each property’s registration: the gas safety record, the electrical report (EICR or EIC) and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This guide sets out exactly what the register asks for from each, based on Schedule 3 of the draft regulations, and the problems we expect to cause delays. It is general information, not legal advice. The underlying safety rules (gas, electrical and energy efficiency) apply whether or not you register.
At a glance
| Certificate | What the register asks for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety record | A copy, and the issue date | If the dwelling has a gas supply |
| EICR | A copy, and the date the next inspection is due (“EICR expiry date”) | For every let dwelling |
| or EIC | A copy of an appropriate EIC, and its issue date | Where an EIC is used instead of an EICR |
| EPC | A copy of the most recent EPC | If you had to give a valid EPC to the current tenant |
| EPC no longer valid | The date the current tenancy started | If the most recent EPC has expired |
| EPC below minimum | Whether a MEES exemption is registered, and which type | If the rating is below the minimum (currently E) |
All of these are in Part 2 of the property registration, the tenancy and safety section. You can provide them when you register, or within 28 days. Your letting agent can also provide them using the per-property link.
Gas safety record
What’s asked: a copy of the gas safety record (if one exists) and its issue date, if the dwelling has a gas supply.
“Gas” follows the definition in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which covers mains gas and LPG. A property on bottled or tank LPG counts as having a gas supply.
Common problems:
- Record more than 12 months old. Gas safety checks are needed every 12 months. A record that is already out of date is a compliance problem before it is a register problem. Book the check before you register.
- Wrong address or flat number. The record says “Flat 2” when the tenancy says “Flat B”, or uses a different house name. Make sure the copy clearly matches the property.
- Missing pages. Engineers’ apps sometimes produce multi-page PDFs, and landlords keep only the first page. Upload the full record.
- Issue date or inspection date? The register asks for the issue date. On most records it is the same as the inspection date, but check.
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
What’s asked: a copy of the EICR (if one exists) and the EICR expiry date. The draft regulations define this as the date stated in the report by which the next inspection and test must be carried out.
As an alternative, an appropriate EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate, issued for new or rewired installations) can be given with its issue date, where it shows compliance with the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020.
Common problems:
- No next inspection date on the report. Some reports give a period (“5 years”) or leave the box blank. The register wants a date. Ask the electrician to confirm it.
- Interval shorter than five years. Inspectors can recommend a shorter interval, such as three years. The register uses the date in the report, not the standard five years.
- Unsatisfactory reports. An EICR marked “unsatisfactory” (C1 or C2 codes, or FI) needs remedial work and written confirmation. Uploading an unsatisfactory report is still accurate information, but it makes the problem visible. Get the work done and keep the confirmation with the report.
- Expiry during the 28-day window. If the report expires just after you register, you will need to update within 28 days of replacing it.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
What’s asked:
- Whether you were required to give a valid EPC to the current tenant, and if so, a copy of the most recent EPC (if one exists).
- If the most recent EPC is no longer valid, the date the current tenancy started.
- If the EPC rating is below the minimum level of energy efficiency, whether there is a registered MEES exemption, and which type.
EPCs last 10 years. An EPC that has expired during a tenancy isn’t automatically a breach, which is why the register asks for the tenancy start date in that case.
Common problems:
- Several EPCs on the public register. Use the most recent one.
- Rating below E with no exemption. Under the MEES rules, a property generally can’t be let below band E unless a valid exemption is registered. See MEES and EPC exemptions.
- Address mismatch. EPC addresses are often formatted differently from the tenancy. Check it is the same property.
How to get ready
- Gather the latest gas safety record, EICR (or EIC) and EPC for each property.
- Check the dates. Is the gas record under 12 months old? Does the EICR show a next inspection date in the future? Is the EPC at least E, or covered by a registered exemption?
- Book renewals for anything due within the next three months, so you register with the new certificate.
- Put every expiry date in a diary. Each renewal means a register update within 28 days.
Our free checklist covers all of this. Check your region’s dates with the deadline checker.
When is your deadline?
Enter a property postcode in the deadline checker to see its region, opening date and days left. Or get the free printable checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Which date from the EICR does the register want?
My property has no gas. What do I do?
Do I need a new EPC to register?
Do I have to update the register every year after the gas check?
This guide is general information about the Register your rental property service, based on GOV.UK guidance and the draft regulations. It is not legal advice. Register-Ready is independent of GOV.UK. For your own situation, check the GOV.UK guidance or take professional advice.