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. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the 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 CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is gas safety certificate price of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, as well as 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 should be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted, it is an offence that is criminal. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not 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 carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with 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 provide permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules for this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals on boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to prove that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off gas lines in the event of a need.