Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards.
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 start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be completed, it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will involve. This should make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. gas safety certificate uk is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs 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 punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on 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. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital document that every tenant must be able to access and keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and make sure that they are aware of how to reach an 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 give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as 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 a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into the property.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer, who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home to prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.