Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every 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 start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out it is an offence that is criminal. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are important and what's involved. This can make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must also be given to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 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 equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in the rental property and also details regarding when they last tested and when they expire. what is gas safety certificate can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 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 decision was made in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property prior to when tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner 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 outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off your gas supply when necessary.