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 inspections. 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 immediate danger they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform 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 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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that need to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
The engineer will give advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it is more common to write a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be required. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a certified 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 handed over to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
gas safe installation certificate must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords are required to 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 a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could present a danger for tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rental property and also details about when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact an 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 date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules for 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 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 decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with the 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 check the boiler burner's seals and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines when necessary.