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 inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to 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 recommend 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 in the rental property were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of 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 lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and name of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out it is an offence that is criminal. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed 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 within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is still refusing 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 the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to fix it. This applies to councils, private landlords, 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 serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. Highly recommended Site lists the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with 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 for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.