Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords must arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation 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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they’ll involve. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren’t any gas leaks in the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who fails to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant refuses to permit the engineer to enter the landlord should write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don’t follow through. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don’t own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it is the landlord’s legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move in. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate how often Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and make sure that they know how long does gas safety certificate last to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 made based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move into.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use within the 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.
It’s also a good idea for landlords to think about having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the ‘landlord’s gas safety certificate’ although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas safety certificate how often engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it’s the landlord’s or letting agent’s responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in, as this will prove that they’re competent to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.