Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger the engineer will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
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, the results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed it is a criminal offence. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service , landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure 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 an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be given to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a 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 visiting their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules for this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that should 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 crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed 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 carry out the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off your gas supply if necessary.