Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.
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. This should be given to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the inspection.
The engineer will provide advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. discover this is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm does not work. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should 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 visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea 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 does not permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.