Landlord certificates in Scotland: every check in one place

A private landlord in Scotland needs an EICR at least every 5 years, PAT testing on appliances they supply, a gas safety check every 12 months, a legionella risk assessment reviewed at least every 2 years, interlinked fire alarms with CO alarms where needed, and an EPC when letting to a new tenant. The table below sets out how often each one is due, who can do it and where the rule comes from.

Property Safety Scotland is a free matching service. We don't carry out any of these checks; we pass your enquiry to suitable local specialists who quote you directly.

The checks at a glance

Safety checks for private rented homes in Scotland. Alarms apply to every home.
Check	How often	Who can do it	The rule	Source
EICR (electrical installation)	At least every 5 years. It must have been done in the 5 years before a tenancy starts.	A skilled electrician competent in the work. SELECT, NICEIC or NAPIT membership is accepted as evidence.	Give the new tenant a copy of the latest EICR before the tenancy starts.	gov.scot, Annex D3
PAT (appliances you supply)	Retest date set at each test, usually more often than every 5 years.	A trained person, which can be the landlord, or an electrician.	Covers appliances the landlord provides, not the tenant's own.	gov.scot, Annex D3
Gas safety check	Every 12 months.	A Gas Safe registered engineer.	Copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in. Keep records for at least 2 years.	HSE
Legionella risk assessment	Before the first let, then reviewed at least every 2 years.	The landlord, if the system is simple, or a competent assessor.	Flush the system before letting if it hasn't been flushed in 2 years. Store hot water at 60°C or more.	gov.scot, Annex D1
Interlinked fire alarms	In place at all times. Every home in Scotland since February 2022.	The owner can fit sealed battery alarms. Mains-wired alarms need a qualified electrician.	Smoke alarm in the main living room and every hallway and landing, heat alarm in the kitchen, all on the ceiling and interlinked.	mygov.scot
Carbon monoxide alarm	In place wherever there's a carbon-fuelled appliance or a flue.	No fitter is specified. It doesn't need to be linked to the fire alarms.	Needed for a boiler, fire, non-electric heater or flue. Gas cookers and hobs don't need one.	mygov.scot
EPC	When selling or letting to a new tenant. Valid for up to 10 years.	A member of an approved organisation.	Give new and prospective tenants the EPC and the Recommendations Report.	mygov.scot

Each row links to the official source. The fire alarm rules apply to every home in Scotland, owned or rented.

Before you let: the order that usually works

Most of these can be booked in the same fortnight. A sensible running order:

Get the EICR and PAT testing done together by one electrician, so any remedial work is finished before anyone moves in.
Book the gas safety check, and test the CO alarm on the same day.
Check the smoke, heat and CO alarms against the room-by-room list.
Do or review the legionella risk assessment, and flush the system if it's been two years.
Get or find the EPC and its Recommendations Report.
Hand the tenant their copies: EICR, gas safety record and EPC.

Our new tenancy safety checklist turns this into a printable page you can tick off.

Registration comes first

Private landlords must register with their council before letting a property, unless they're exempt, and renew every three years. Letting while unregistered is a criminal offence, with a maximum fine of £50,000. Councils also license houses in multiple occupation; see our Edinburgh and Glasgow pages for the council links.

What tenants can ask for

Tenants are entitled to copies of the EICR, the gas safety record and the EPC. If a tenant has asked you for any of these, our page for tenants explains what they've been told to expect, so you know where they're coming from.

Common questions

What certificates does a landlord need in Scotland?

An EICR (at least every 5 years), PAT testing of appliances you supply, a gas safety record every 12 months if there's gas, a legionella risk assessment reviewed at least every 2 years, interlinked smoke and heat alarms plus CO alarms where needed, and an EPC when you let to a new tenant.

Which certificates do I give the tenant?

A copy of the latest EICR before the tenancy starts, the gas safety record before they move in (and within 28 days of each later check), and the EPC with its Recommendations Report.

Do I need to register as a landlord too?

Yes, unless you're exempt. Private landlords must register with their council before letting and renew every three years. Letting while unregistered is a criminal offence.

Can one person do all the checks?

Not usually. An electrician can often do the EICR and PAT together, but the gas check needs a Gas Safe registered engineer and the EPC needs an approved assessor. Tick everything you need on our form and we'll pass each part to someone suitable.

Sources

Last checked: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.