Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut 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 that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange an annual gas inspection 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 comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue has been solved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply 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 an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are conducted by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in 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 a period of 12 months, and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant needs it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord should write to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk for 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 very important document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this apply to private, council and housing association landlords and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine 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 sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If boiler service and gas safety certificate does not permit access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants should always see 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 the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally remove faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.