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Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed 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 need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are important and what's required. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and if not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must ensure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant needs it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for 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 is installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant is refusing the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses 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?
In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Infractions to this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also state that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, 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 contains information about the gas installations of the rental property as well as information about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that 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 check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was unlawful 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 a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. what is a gas safety certificate will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to 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 visit the property and 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 qualified to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.
