Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected every year. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by an 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.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter which describes why the check is essential and what will be involved. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. 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 must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access, the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive 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 before tenants move in. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in a rental property, as well as details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It will help tenants recognize problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 in June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal 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 the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property before 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 homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. 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 landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. how often gas safety certificate should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.