Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are 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 within the rental property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
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 provided 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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue is fixed.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be conducted. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are important and what's required. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are completed by a qualified 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 completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.
certificate cost 's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the 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 must also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. safety certificates allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should write to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. 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's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a 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 rental properties as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the installation or appliances and make sure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check 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 their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should fix it. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. Be aware that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.