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. The law also requires that you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted 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 order and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.
visit the next page will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to send a clearly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they'll involve. This will make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a crucial 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 which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed every year.
A landlord who fails to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may present a danger for tenants. They will issue an 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. It contains information on the gas appliances in a rental property as well as information on when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure 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 compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals of boiler burners as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the 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. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in to prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off your gas supply should it be required.