Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediate danger the engineer will request permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to organize a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, 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) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue is fixed.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and if not, the landlord might be required to begin the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
she said 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 identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant should be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety 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 that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must repair it. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 in June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in 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.
It is also recommended for landlords to think about having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals on boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.