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Building compliance quick check

Fast compliance verification for experienced property managers. Checklist format covering electrical, gas, water, HVAC, lifts, and energy performance requirements.

Running a Business Updated 15 September 2026

6 milestones references 7 guides

Is your building compliant?

This quick check covers the six core compliance areas for business premises. Work through each checklist to verify your current compliance status.

This is for experienced property managers who understand the regulations and need a rapid YES/NO verification before audits or lease renewals.

Electrical safety

Fixed installation compliance under Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Inspection intervals

Commercial premises require periodic inspection and testing.

Legal requirement

No statutory inspection intervals - systems must be maintained to prevent danger

Commercial premises

Every 5 years (IET Wiring Regulations guidance)

Industrial premises

Every 3 years (IET Wiring Regulations guidance)

Swimming pools, construction sites

Every 1 year (IET Wiring Regulations guidance)

Certificate

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

Performed by

Competent electrician

Fixed electrical installation inspected within required interval (typically 5 years commercial, 1 year high-risk) Valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) held on file All C1 (danger) and C2 (potentially dangerous) faults from last inspection remediated Portable appliance testing (PAT) conducted within last 12 months for Class 1 equipment Emergency lighting tested monthly (function) and annually (full duration)

Electrical safety compliance guide

Full requirements for fixed installations, PAT testing, and emergency lighting
Gas safety
Annual checks under Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Annual gas safety checks

All gas appliances and flues require annual inspection by Gas Safe engineers.
Safety check frequency

Every 12 months

Who must arrange

Landlord or property owner with gas appliances

Engineer qualification

Must be Gas Safe registered

Record retention

2 years

Tenant notification

Within 28 days of check, or before new tenancy starts

Annual safety check must cover:

All gas pipework, appliances, and flues

Boilers, fires, cookers, water heaters

Any gas appliance provided by landlord

A Gas Safe registered engineer must carry out checks. Keep copies of gas safety records for 2 years.

Gas safety checks (opens in a new tab)
All gas appliances inspected by Gas Safe registered engineer within last 12 months Valid CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Certificate) held for each appliance Flues and ventilation inspected and confirmed safe Gas pipework inspected for leaks and corrosion Carbon monoxide detectors installed in rooms with gas appliances (if staff or public access) (optional)

Gas safety compliance guide

Annual inspection requirements, Gas Safe registration, and CP12 certificates
Air conditioning and F-gas

HVAC systems over 12kW and equipment containing fluorinated gases.

F-gas leak check intervals

Equipment containing F-gases requires periodic leak checking based on refrigerant charge.

Below 5 tCO2e charge

No mandatory leak checks (good practice to check periodically)

5 to 50 tCO2e charge

Check every 12 months (or every 24 months if automatic leak detection system fitted)

50 to 500 tCO2e charge

Check every 6 months (or every 12 months with automatic leak detection)

500 tCO2e charge and above

Check every 3 months AND permanent automatic leak detection system required

CO2 equivalent calculation

CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) equals quantity of F-gas in kilograms multiplied by the GWP of the gas

Who can carry out checks

Certified F-gas engineer holding both individual and company certification

Record retention period

Records must be kept for at least 5 years

Required record contents

Quantity and type of F-gas, date of check, results, any leaks found and repaired

Responsibility for compliance

Operator (building owner or occupier) is responsible for ensuring checks are carried out on time

Leak repair requirement

Leak found must be repaired without undue delay; follow-up check within 1 month of repair

Enforcement authority

Environment Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales, SEPA (Scotland), NIEA (Northern Ireland)

Penalty for non-compliance

Unlimited fine on conviction

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) guidance (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)

Air conditioning systems over 12kW inspected within last 5 years (TM44 inspection) F-gas equipment leak checked at required intervals (quarterly for large systems) F-gas logbook maintained with leak check records and refrigerant top-ups Installation, maintenance, and servicing carried out by F-gas certified engineers Annual F-gas data reported to Environment Agency (if over 500 tCO2e) (optional)

Air conditioning and F-gas compliance

TM44 inspections, F-gas leak checking, logbook requirements, and certification
Water systems and legionella
Legionella control under Health and Safety at Work Act and ACOP L8.
Legionella risk assessment

Water systems in business premises require risk assessment and control measures.
Risk assessment

Required for all workplace water systems

Review frequency

Regularly, and whenever circumstances change (no fixed interval)

Hot water temperature

60C minimum at calorifier (storage)

Cold water temperature

Below 20C (ideally below 15C)

Outlet flushing

Weekly flush for unused outlets

Legionella bacteria can grow in water systems between 20-45C. As an employer or landlord, you must:

Identify and assess sources of legionella risk

Prepare a written scheme to prevent or control risk

Implement, manage and monitor precautions

Keep records of precautions

Appoint someone responsible for compliance

High-risk systems include cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, spa pools, and other systems that create aerosols.

Legionella and landlords (opens in a new tab)
Legionella risk assessment completed within last 2 years (or after system changes) Hot water stored at 60°C and distributed at 50°C minimum Cold water stored below 20°C Weekly temperature checks recorded for sentinel outlets Monthly flushing of infrequently used outlets (showers, taps) Quarterly or annual tank inspection and descaling (as per risk assessment) Cooling towers registered with local authority and treated/tested monthly (optional)

Water systems and legionella compliance

Risk assessment, temperature control, testing regime, and record keeping
Passenger lifts and lifting equipment

Thorough examination under LOLER 1998.

LOLER examination intervals

Passenger lifts require thorough examination every 6 months.

Equipment for lifting persons

Every 6 months

Lifting accessories (slings, chains, shackles)

Every 6 months

All other lifting equipment

Every 12 months

After exceptional circumstances

Before next use (damage, prolonged non-use, major modification)

New equipment

Before first use if safety depends on installation

Passenger lifts examined by competent person within last 6 months Valid thorough examination report held (Form F2508A) Defects from last examination rectified within specified timeframes Lift maintenance contract in place with qualified engineer Emergency alarm and two-way communication tested and functional Lift insurance current (if required by lease/mortgage) (optional)

Passenger lift compliance guide

LOLER requirements, thorough examination, maintenance contracts, and safety systems
Energy performance and building envelope
EPC and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for non-domestic properties.

EPC requirements

Commercial properties must meet minimum EPC rating E to let or sell.

A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required when a commercial building in England or Wales is sold, let, or newly constructed. Since April 2023, all existing commercial lettings must meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) of at least an E rating.

EPC validity

10 years

Minimum EPC rating for commercial lettings

E rating (since 1 April 2023 for all existing lettings)

Penalty for non-compliance (under 3 months)

10% of rateable value (minimum £5,000, maximum £50,000)

Penalty for non-compliance (3 months or more)

20% of rateable value (minimum £10,000, maximum £150,000)

Seven-year payback test

Improvements qualify where they achieve a simple payback of 7 years or less

PRS Exemptions Register

Any exemption must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register and is valid for 5 years

Display Energy Certificate (DEC) - buildings over 1,000m²

Valid for 1 year, must be updated annually; required for public buildings

Display Energy Certificate (DEC) - buildings 250-1,000m²

Valid for 10 years; required for public buildings

Advisory report accompanying DEC

Valid for 7 years

Air conditioning inspection

Inspection report required for air conditioning systems over 12kW effective output

Exempt buildings

Listed buildings (where compliance would unacceptably alter character), temporary buildings (under 2 years), places of worship, certain industrial sites, and some agricultural buildings

EPC required when

A commercial building is sold, let, or newly constructed

The MEES obligation applies to landlords of non-domestic private rented property in England and Wales. Where a property has an EPC rating below E, the landlord must make relevant energy efficiency improvements that achieve a simple payback of 7 years or less. If there are no qualifying improvements, the landlord may register an exemption.

Energy performance certificates for commercial property (opens in a new tab)

Valid EPC held (if property let or sold since 2008) EPC rating E or above (required for lettings since April 2023) EPC recommendations reviewed and cost-effective measures implemented (optional) Building envelope maintained (no water ingress, intact insulation, functional windows) Glazing meets safety standards (BS 6262) where required Fire doors maintained and self-closing mechanisms functional

Energy Performance Certificate guide

EPC requirements, MEES compliance, exemptions, and rating improvement

Full premises compliance checklist

For a comprehensive checklist covering all building systems and broader premises obligations (fire safety, asbestos, accessibility), use the full premises compliance guide.

Premises compliance checklist

Comprehensive checklist covering all building systems, fire safety, health and safety, and accessibility requirements
Failed any checks?

If you answered 'NO' to any required item:
1. Electrical/Gas/Lift faults: Engage qualified contractor immediately. Do not use faulty systems.
2. Overdue inspections: Book inspection within 7 days. Maintain temporary logbook until compliant.
3. Missing certificates: Obtain copies from contractor or arrange re-inspection if records lost.
4. EPC below E rating: Apply for exemption (if cost-effective improvements exhausted) or implement upgrades before next letting.
5. Legionella control gaps: Commission risk assessment and implement control regime immediately. High risk of serious harm.
Take note

Record keeping: Maintain a compliance file with all inspection reports, certificates, and test records. Enforcement authorities can request evidence at any time.
When to re-check

Re-run this checklist:
- Before lease renewals or property sales
- Before HSE or local authority inspections
- After any building works or system installations
- Annually as part of insurance compliance
- When taking over management of new premises
Set calendar reminders for each inspection deadline to maintain continuous compliance.

Building compliance quick check

Is your building compliant?

Electrical safety

Electrical safety compliance guide

Gas safety

Gas safety compliance guide

Air conditioning and F-gas

Air conditioning and F-gas compliance

Water systems and legionella

Water systems and legionella compliance

Passenger lifts and lifting equipment

Passenger lift compliance guide

Energy performance and building envelope

Energy Performance Certificate guide

Full premises compliance checklist

Premises compliance checklist

Failed any checks?

When to re-check

Related journeys

Building compliance for new property owners

Structural works pre-start compliance check