Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must 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 conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide 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 given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who conducted the check.
gas safety certificate and boiler service will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed, it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are made and what they will entail. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't leaks of gas in the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas 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 inspection in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant as proof of the safety 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 a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It's important that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off gas lines if necessary.