Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
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 licensed gas engineer. Landlords must arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for 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 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 the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be addressed to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is an offence that is criminal. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must make sure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas 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 inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be given to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for their 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.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may 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?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into the property. Infractions to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and have them tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do how often gas safety certificate get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supply if necessary.