Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask for 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 a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted 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 a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be involved. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore vital for landlords to have 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 because it lets engineers easily access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what would happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could present a danger to tenants. homeowner gas safety certificate will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. 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 decided that it was unlawful 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 have an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow 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 the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.