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 annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to cut 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 that demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant refuses to permit the engineer to enter the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on 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 be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. The rules for this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
what is gas safety certificate is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance 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 responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.