Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual inspections. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety certificate replacement safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation for 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 test as well as the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what is a gas safety certificate needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is an offence that is criminal. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it's usually easier to write a letter that explains why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This can make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted 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 check within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking 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 ask for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access, the landlord should write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
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. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and have them tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do homeowners need a gas safety certificate I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's 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 of any issues or actions that must 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 landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and 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 is competent to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas technician can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.