Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the property that is rented were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. 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 tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be required. This can encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If hop over to these guys does not allow entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into the property. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact an 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 date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to fix it. The rules governing this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants 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 allow 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 explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not 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.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure 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. landlord safety certificate 's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies if necessary.