Gas and electrical work in Manchester
Six in ten Manchester households rent their home. Across England it is fewer than four in ten. [1]
Facts checked against their sources between 1 and 2 October 2026.
Manchester against England, 2021 Census
Share of households. Each bar runs from 0 to 100%.
Who owns the home
How it is heated
Landlord gas and electrical checks
The same across England.
Gas safety check [4, 5]
- Covers
- Each gas appliance and flue the landlord provides
- How often
- At least every 12 months
- Done by
- A Gas Safe registered engineer
- Tenant gets a copy
- Within 28 days of the check
Electrical inspection and test [6]
- Covers
- The electrical installation
- How often
- At least every 5 years, or sooner if the last report says so
- Done by
- A qualified person
- Tenant gets a copy
- Within 28 days of the check
Licensing in Manchester
- Manchester City Council requires a licence for a privately rented house in multiple occupation (HMO) with five or more people from two or more households who share amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. The council says it does not currently run an additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs. [7]
- In parts of the city every privately rented home needs a selective licence. The council has run selective licensing in some areas since 2016 and keeps a record of where it applies. [8, 9]
- A selective licence holder must give the council a gas safety certificate from the last 12 months every year. On request they must also supply an electrical installation inspection certificate, which the conditions say should be done every 5 years, and a portable appliance test certificate where they provide electrical appliances. [10]
For your work: On a home with a selective licence, the gas safety record you issue goes to the council each year as well as to the tenant. [4, 10]
Electrical work and building control
- In England, a new circuit, a replacement consumer unit, or an addition or alteration to a circuit in a special location needs a building notice or a full plans application. That is not needed when the work is done by someone registered with a competent person scheme for it, or checked by an approved third party certifier. [11]
- For work that goes to the council, Manchester City Council lists its building control phone number, email and postal address on its contact page. [12]
Driving a van
- There is no clean air charge to drive anywhere in Greater Manchester. In 2025 the government approved a plan without a charging zone. An earlier direction from 2020 would have charged some older vans. [13]
Training
- The Manchester College lists electrical installation courses from Level 1 to Level 4 and plumbing courses at Levels 1 and 2. It teaches construction courses at its Openshaw and Wythenshawe campuses. [14]
Jobs on CertBox Jobs
Sources
- 1ONS Census 2021, table TS054 Tenure (Nomis)Manchester (E08000003): 214,730 households; private rented 69,403 (32.3%); social rented 63,276 (29.5%); owned 79,925 (37.2%). Renting in all, 61.8%. England: private rented 20.5%, social rented 17.1%, so 37.6% renting.
- 2ONS Census 2021, table TS046 Central heating (Nomis)Manchester: mains gas only 143,876 of 214,735 households (67.0%); electric only 39,199 (18.3%). England: mains gas only 17,334,040 of 23,436,085 (74.0%); electric only 8.7%.
- 3ONS Census 2021, table TS044 Accommodation type (Nomis)Manchester: purpose-built flats 28.1%, terraced 28.0%. England: purpose-built flats 17.1%, terraced 23.0%.
- 4Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 36Paragraph (3)(a): safety check at intervals of not more than 12 months. Paragraph (6)(a): copy to each existing tenant within 28 days.
- 5HSE, Gas safety: landlords and letting agents FAQAnnual gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- 6Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, regulation 3Paragraph (1)(b) and (2): inspection and testing by a qualified person at intervals of no more than 5 years, or earlier if the last report requires. Paragraph (3)(b): copy to each existing tenant within 28 days.
- 7Manchester City Council, Check if you need an HMO licence and applyMandatory HMO licence criteria (five or more people, two or more households, shared amenities). "We don't currently have an additional licensing scheme."
- 8Manchester City Council, What is selective licensing?All private landlords in a designated area must license each privately rented property there.
- 9Manchester City Council, Selective licensing areas coveredSelective licensing has run in select areas since 2016; the council keeps records of where.
- 10Manchester City Council, Selective Licence Conditions 2023 (PDF)Schedule I condition 1: gas safety certificate produced to the council annually. Schedule II condition 2: electrical installation certificate on demand, every 5 years; PAT certificate on demand where appliances are provided.
- 11Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12Paragraph (6A): new circuit, consumer unit replacement, or work on circuits in a special location needs a building notice or full plans application. Paragraph (6): not needed for Schedule 3 competent person work or Schedule 3A third party certifier work (England).
- 12Manchester City Council, Contact building controlBuilding control phone, email and postal address.
- 13Clean Air Greater Manchester, The Clean Air Plan"There are no clean air charges to drive anywhere in Greater Manchester." Government approved the non-charging plan in 2025; the March 2020 direction would have charged some older vans.
- 14The Manchester College, Construction and Engineering coursesElectrical installation courses at Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4; plumbing at Levels 1 and 2; construction taught at the Openshaw and Wythenshawe campuses.