diff --git a/unit_tests/test_zaza_model.py b/unit_tests/test_zaza_model.py
index c3d4e3466..b7b5b512f 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_zaza_model.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_zaza_model.py
@@ -1023,6 +1023,15 @@ async def _get_status():
                 'active',
                 timeout=0.1)
 
+    def test_get_file_stats(self):
+        self.action.data = {
+            'results': {'Code': '0', 'Stderr': '', 'Stdout': '444'}
+        }
+        self.patch_object(model, 'Model')
+        self.Model.return_value = self.Model_mock
+        mtime = model.get_file_stats('%Y', 'app/2', '/etc/myfile.cnf')
+        self.assertEqual(mtime, '444')
+
     def test_wait_for_agent_status(self):
         async def _block_until(f, timeout=None):
             if not f():
diff --git a/zaza/model.py b/zaza/model.py
index 04900d7c3..0f78ef708 100644
--- a/zaza/model.py
+++ b/zaza/model.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import asyncio
 from async_generator import async_generator, yield_, asynccontextmanager
+import functools
 import logging
 import os
 import subprocess
@@ -684,6 +685,34 @@ def check_unit_workload_status_message(model, unit, message=None,
         raise ValueError("Must be called with message or prefixes")
 
 
+async def aync_get_file_stats(stat_format, unit_name, remote_file,
+                              model_name=None, timeout=2700):
+    """Stat the given file on a unit and return the results.
+
+    :param stat_format: Format for stat command.
+    :type stat_format: str
+    :param unit_name: Name of unit to run action on
+    :type unit_name: str
+    :param remote_file: Remote file to stat.
+    :type remote_file: str
+    :param model_name: Name of model to query.
+    :type model_name: str
+    :param timeout: Time to wait for command to run on remote unit.
+    :type timeout: int
+    """
+    async with run_in_model(model_name) as model:
+        unit = get_unit_from_name(unit_name, model=model)
+        output = await unit.run(
+            'stat --format "{}" {}'.format(stat_format, remote_file))
+    return output.data.get('results')['Stdout'].strip()
+
+get_file_stats = sync_wrapper(aync_get_file_stats)
+
+get_file_mtime = functools.partial(get_file_stats, '%Y')
+
+get_file_ctime = functools.partial(get_file_stats, '%W')
+
+
 async def async_wait_for_agent_status(model_name=None, status='executing',
                                       timeout=60):
     """Wait for at least one unit to enter a specific agent status.