Every certificate a Glasgow landlord needs, and how often

Letting a property in Scotland carries a different compliance list from letting one in England, and the differences are the bits that catch people out. This is the full set, with the renewal interval for each.

Gas safety record (CP12) — every 12 months

Required for any let property with gas appliances or gas pipework. A Gas Safe registered engineer inspects every appliance, the meter, the pipework and the ventilation, and issues a dated record. You must give a copy to your tenants — to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants at the start of the tenancy.

Do not let it lapse. The record is what proves the property was safe on a given date, and a gap in the sequence is the first thing anyone reviewing a claim or a complaint will find.

EICR — at least every 5 years

An Electrical Installation Condition Report covers the fixed wiring, the consumer unit and the accessories. Private lets in Scotland need one at least every five years, carried out by a competent person, with a copy provided to the tenant.

Changes to the Repairing Standard that took effect on 1 March 2024 also brought in requirements around RCD protection in consumer units. Older fuse boxes with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection will typically be reported as unsatisfactory, and that means remedial work before the property can be let.

PAT testing — with the EICR, in practice

Portable appliance testing applies to appliances you supply — the washing machine, the fridge, the kettle in a furnished let. There is no fixed statutory interval, but it is normally done alongside the EICR so the paperwork stays in step. Tenants' own appliances are not your responsibility.

EPC — every 10 years

An Energy Performance Certificate is needed before you market a property to let or to sell, and it is valid for ten years. In Scotland, when you sell, the EPC forms part of the Home Report rather than being a standalone document, and the certificate must be displayed within the property in a rented dwelling.

Interlinked fire and smoke alarms — ongoing

Part of the Repairing Standard and mandatory in all Scottish homes since February 2022: interlinked smoke alarms in the living room and every circulation space, an interlinked heat alarm in the kitchen, and a CO alarm in any room with a fuel-burning appliance. There is no renewal certificate, but sealed units have an end-of-life date, typically ten years, after which they must be replaced.

Legionella risk assessment — reviewed periodically

Landlords have a duty to assess and control the risk of legionella in the water system. For a typical domestic let this is a straightforward written risk assessment rather than water sampling, reviewed when something material changes — a new cylinder, a long void period, or a change in occupancy pattern.

Book them together. A gas safety check, an EICR, PAT testing and an alarm check can normally be done in one visit — one appointment for your tenant instead of four, and cheaper than arranging them separately.