Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler ServiceAs a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to conduct a gas safety inspection once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to 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. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter that explains the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all
gas safety certificate near me appliances and flues that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. 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 uk Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it 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 conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. 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 an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on 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 be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules for this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 an official gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official
gas safety certificate price safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must 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 must be signed by a licensed 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, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed 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 perform the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off your gas supply if necessary.