Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As 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 determines that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
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 property that is rented have been checked by a qualified 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 out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who conducted the test.
The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks in the property. This is a crucial responsibility and landlords should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms 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 safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. what is a gas safety certificate should also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property 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 for tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues they install within 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.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. 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 the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If what is gas safety certificate is hesitant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.