Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following 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 new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
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 and tests, the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
do homeowners need a gas safety certificate will give advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. 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?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant requests it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. check it out allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules governing this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get 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 these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about 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. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly 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 safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.