Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords must arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, 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) after every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation for 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions required to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
If landlord safety certificate refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it's more common to write a letter that explains why the checks are essential and what will be required. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must 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 conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rental property as well as information on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and make sure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, and also to 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 a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. how much gas safety certificate (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if required.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply should it be required.