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 regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to cut off gas supply 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 proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, if not, the landlord might need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. gas safety certificate homeowner is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas 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 given to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and keep a copy of the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, as well as 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 made based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly 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 safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that need to be addressed. 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 landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and can shut off gas lines in the event of a need.