Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all of the gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test.
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 it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are important and what's involved. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules for this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as 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 with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if required.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.