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 that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rented property have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies 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 any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
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 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 inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue has been resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they will entail. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys 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 within the property. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out by a qualified 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 issued to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants request it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being charged or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. gas safety certificate near me will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in the rental property and also details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them checked every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should repair it. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to consider 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 working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords are required to 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 is essential to inform tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off gas lines in the event of a need.