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 annually. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If gas safety certificate what is checked considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all of the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, as well as 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 should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue has been fixed.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be conducted. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, find more 's often easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed 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 within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It is 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. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
check it out must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rented property and also details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate could be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that must be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that landlords or letting agents only 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 necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.