Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following 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 lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted 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 gas safety certificate grace period renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. 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 certificate in case a tenant needs it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will 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 1988 Housing Act.
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 in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rented property, as well as details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and make sure they know how contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules around this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 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 an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals on boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is 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 a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.