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 give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances 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 a crucial obligation for landlords, and they must ensure 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 as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time 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 does not allow the engineer's entry, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 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 that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that landlords must give 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, an engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant must get a hold of and 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 identify issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
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 their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. visit the next page contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.