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. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas safety certificates Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the gas safety certificate grace period appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety certificate check safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the gas safe register duplicate certificate Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the check.
The engineer will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas certificates appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is more common to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are vital and what is required. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they are inspected for gas by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed each year.
A landlord who fails to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord must write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rented property and also details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an 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 date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. 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 they provide for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the seals of boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.