Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is Gas safety certificate used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the check.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be fixed so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out it is an offence that is criminal. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may be required to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a 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 risk 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 crucial document that every tenant must be able to access and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must repair it. The rules for this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 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 ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection in conjunction with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises to prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.