Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure 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 determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after 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 any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
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 shows the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue is resolved.
can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will entail. This should entice the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must be sure to get their gas inspections done by a certified 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 given to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you 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 in. Failing to do so is an offense that could cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could cause a threat for 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 every tenant should take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and make sure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of 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 are in operation in their homes and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules for this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 an official gas safety certificate. 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 when tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within 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 conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues they provide for use within the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that need to be addressed. 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 landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if required.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.