Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required 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 pipes, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains 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 that conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to make it safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant does not allow access for gas security checks to be conducted, it is an offence that is criminal. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to write a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are carried out by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must also be given to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
If a landlord is unable to 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. certificate cost must keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate 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. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
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. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested each month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as 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 certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do I get 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. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they supply 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 consider conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that must be taken care of. 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 the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off gas lines if necessary.