Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is gas safe installation certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all of the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a licensed gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, 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. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation 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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the inspection.
The engineer will give advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice before they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain 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 gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and details of any problems or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.