Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps required to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer that conducted the test.
The engineer will give advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem has been solved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should be sure to are inspected for gas by a certified 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 issued to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own 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 in. Failure to comply with the law can lead to the landlord being charged or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could cause a threat for tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must be able to access and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in the rental property as well as information regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. gas safety certificate landlord was based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they install in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as an 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 at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals of boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants with 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 visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if required.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.