Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer that conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be carried out. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are important and what's required. This should make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility and landlords should ensure that they get their gas inspections done by a qualified 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should also be given to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will 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 will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to comply with this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform 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 be a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and have them checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue 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 a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure how to get gas safety certificate with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. 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 the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.