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Is a gas safety check the same as a boiler service?

Last verified 23 October 2026

No. A gas safety check is a yearly safety inspection of each gas appliance and flue. A service is maintenance carried out to the manufacturer's instructions. HSE treats them as separate duties, although you can arrange both with the same Gas Safe registered engineer.

Landlords in Great Britain have two linked duties. One is the annual gas safety check on every gas appliance and flue they provide, recorded on a gas safety record. The other is to keep appliances and flues maintained in a safe condition. HSE says appliances should be serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions, and if those are not available, yearly servicing is suggested unless a Gas Safe registered engineer advises otherwise.

HSE describes the maintenance duty as distinct from keeping gas safety records, and notes that installation pipework is not covered by the annual check. So a service on its own does not give you a gas safety record, and a safety check on its own may not cover the servicing the manufacturer recommends. Keep both records together for each property.

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General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.