Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is an offence that is criminal. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to write a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be involved. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If gas safe installation certificate is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord should inform them why the engineer is required and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant continues to refuse, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to prove that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.