Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to shut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who performed the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been fixed.
safety certificates is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are carried out by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move into. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure they are aware of how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises, as this will prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supply if necessary.