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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 regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed 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 makes sure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues 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 every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue has been solved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be carried out. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter which describes why the check is vital and what is required. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is a crucial responsibility and landlords should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord must write to them explaining the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failing to do so is an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital document that all tenants should be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and have them checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 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 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 get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. landlord gas safety certificate uk (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If certificate cost is reluctant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on 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 permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.