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 inspections. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a 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 have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, 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 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 certificate and boiler service Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test, the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
The engineer will give advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue is solved.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be carried out, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and if not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out 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 by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants request it.
It’s also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as ‘at-risk’ and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours’ notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse 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 you don’t possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure 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 cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules governing this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords, as well as 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 certification. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It’s also a good idea for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term “landlord’s gas safety certificate” however it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It’s a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it’s the landlord gas safety certificate price‘s or letting agent’s responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with your home’s systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.