Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.

If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all of the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.

Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (gas certificates Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given 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 contains 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 who performed the inspection.

The engineer will provide advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is solved.

If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it's more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This will make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the eviction process.

How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their 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 be sure to have their gas inspections completed 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 within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.

If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant requests it.

It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and shut off the boiler service and gas safety certificate and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant refuses to permit the engineer to enter, the landlord should send a letter 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 the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to the landlord safety certificate being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, 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 expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to fix it. The rules governing this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

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 ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility 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 ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It's also a good idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if required.

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 therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off your gas supplies when necessary.