Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it’s your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord’s gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property have been checked by an experienced gas safety certificate uk engineer. Landlords must arrange the gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who conducted the check.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem has been fixed.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they’ll involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do homeowners need a gas safety certificate not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren’t gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must make sure that they are inspected for gas by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant needs it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as ‘at-risk’ and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them why the engineer is required and what will happen if they don’t comply. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don’t have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that all tenants should take possession of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in a rented property as well as information regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord gas safety certificate must repair it. The rules around this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate 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 to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the gas safety certificate grace period Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It’s also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals on boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called “landlord’s gas safety certificate” however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer’s presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies when necessary.