Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for 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 pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every 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 new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who performed the inspection.
The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted it is a criminal offence. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it's more common to send a letter which describes why the check is essential and what will be required. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't leaks of gas in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should be sure to are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. 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 documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of 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 every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations of the rental property and also details on when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must repair it. The rules for this apply to private, council and housing association landlords as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was unlawful 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 the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues 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 crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.