Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed it is a criminal offence. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This can encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry, the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant must be able to access and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of 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 provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. The rules governing this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 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 based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. landlord gas safety certificates should explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations 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 before they allow them into the home to prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and efficiently. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supplies if necessary.