Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that 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 a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes, appliances, and flues are in good working order and in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their 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 following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning 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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem has been fixed.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to send a clearly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual safety check 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 any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed gas 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to 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 at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct 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 suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offense that could cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may present a danger to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
Highly recommended Webpage is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It includes information about the gas appliances in a rented property as well as information on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer visiting 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 may be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. If click through the following page is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. landlord safety certificate applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform 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 safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.