Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also provide a copy 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 what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps required to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who performed the test.
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 an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be completed, it is a criminal offence. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to write a letter that describes why the check is important and what's required. This will encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
A landlord who fails to 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 the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don't 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 is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
gas certificate is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move in. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital document that all tenants should take possession of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils 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 serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be signed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.
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 on 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 faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.