Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords must arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to write a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be required. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to 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 crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of the rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and have them tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 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 in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with Highly recommended Site must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that must 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 landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in 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 force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supply when necessary.