Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. 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 dangerous 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 (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be turned off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of 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 written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they will entail. This can make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
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 also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information on the gas installations in a rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact an 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 of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. gas safe installation certificate was made by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that must 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 crucial that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.