Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed 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 actions that need to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem is solved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it's often easier to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are vital and what is involved. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection 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 must be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for 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 annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give their 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 does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rented property as well as information on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide an original 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 rules 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 isn't working, the landlord should fix it. The rules governing this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
how often gas safety certificate is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.