Arranging tenant access for the annual gas safety check

Tenant access for the annual check — the facts that change the job

• Early notice ahead of the due date gives the best chance of a smooth booking
• A short appointment window suits tenants with irregular working hours
• A reminder shortly before the visit reduces missed appointments
• Every access attempt, including refusals, should be recorded in writing
• The duty rests on demonstrating reasonable effort, not on a guaranteed visit

Tenant access for the annual check: the short technical version

Giving notice well ahead of the due date, offering a short window rather than a single fixed time, and sending a reminder shortly before the appointment all improve the chance of a first-time visit. If a tenant does not answer or repeatedly declines to arrange a time, the landlord's position depends on being able to show reasonable attempts were made, so every contact, letter or missed appointment should be logged in writing with dates.

Where we deal with this

• Radstock (BA3) · 0 mi
• Warminster (BA12) · 15 mi
• Peasedown St John (BA2) · 3 mi
• Westbury (Wiltshire) (BA13) · 13 mi

Questions we get asked

What counts as a reasonable attempt to gain access?

Written or texted requests with proposed dates, a reasonable number of attempts spread over time, and a clear record of each one kept on file.

Can a tenancy agreement require the tenant to allow access?

Most tenancy agreements include a right of access for safety checks with appropriate notice, though the exact wording varies by agreement.

What should I do if a tenant is completely unresponsive?

Keep escalating contact by more than one method and document each attempt. If access genuinely cannot be gained, that documented history is what protects the landlord's position.