Safety Certificates Needed for a Nottingham Landlord Licence: Gas, EICR, EPC and Fire

The Safety Certificates You Need Before Applying

Nottingham City Council won't accept a property licence application as "duly made" unless the required safety documentation is uploaded. Missing or expired certificates are the most common reason applications stall — and a stalled application leaves your property legally unlicensed.

Here's what you need for both selective and HMO licence applications.

Gas Safety Record

A current Gas Safety Record (formerly Gas Safety Certificate, CP12) issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This must be renewed annually — every 12 months, not just when you apply for a licence.

The certificate must cover all gas appliances, fittings, and flues in the property. If the property has no gas supply, check the portal instructions for how to record that before submission.

As a licence condition, you're required to produce the Gas Safety Record to the council on request at any point during the licence term. Keep every year's certificate on file.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

A satisfactory EICR issued by a qualified electrician, valid for five years. The report must show a satisfactory overall assessment. If it does not, arrange any necessary remedial work and obtain a satisfactory EICR before submitting the licence application.

The EICR requirement applies to the fixed wiring installation — the permanent electrical infrastructure of the property. It's separate from PAT testing of portable appliances.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

A valid EPC with a minimum E rating. Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), it's already illegal to let a property with an F or G rating unless you've registered a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. The council checks this as part of the licence application.

EPCs are valid for 10 years. If your property's EPC has expired or shows an F/G rating, you'll need a new assessment before applying. If the property genuinely can't reach E due to its construction, register a formal exemption — don't just leave it.

Fire Risk Assessment (HMOs)

For HMO licence applications (Additional or Mandatory), a fire risk assessment is required. This is a written document identifying fire hazards, people at risk, and the measures in place to reduce risk. For larger HMOs, the council may also require:

• Fire alarm and emergency lighting test certificates
• Evidence of fire door installation and maintenance
• Escape route documentation

For selective licences (non-HMO), a separate fire risk assessment document isn't typically required in the application, but the statutory licence conditions still mandate smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel or gas-burning appliances.

PAT Testing

PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) covers any electrical appliance the landlord supplies — kettles, microwaves, toasters, washing machines, provided furniture with electrical components. The Housing Act 2004 licence conditions require the licence holder to keep electrical appliances in safe condition.

PAT testing is not explicitly listed as a mandatory upload document on the application portal for all licence types. The licence condition is to keep supplied electrical appliances in safe condition; current PAT records can help demonstrate that.

For student HMOs where furnished properties are the norm, records of appliance checks help demonstrate that supplied appliances are kept in safe condition.

Keeping Certificates Current Throughout the Licence

A common mistake is treating safety certificates as a one-time application requirement. They're not — they're ongoing licence conditions:

• Gas Safety Record: renew every 12 months for the entire five-year licence term
• EICR: renew at five years (typically aligns with one renewal during a five-year licence)
• EPC: 10-year validity, but check if energy improvements change the rating
• Smoke and CO alarms: test monthly, replace batteries or units as needed, keep a written log

The council can request any of these during the licence term, and non-compliance is a breach of licence conditions — a separate offence carrying penalties of up to £40,000.

The Application Won't Wait for Your Certificates

Don't start the online application hoping to upload certificates later. The portal requires all mandatory documents at submission. An incomplete application isn't "duly made" and doesn't give you temporary protection against prosecution.

The practical sequence: commission all necessary certificates and inspections, wait for the reports, then submit the complete application with everything attached and pay the Part A fee in one go.

Our Nottingham landlord licensing guide includes a document pre-submission audit checklist that maps each certificate to its validity period and upload format requirements, so nothing gets missed at the portal stage.

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