Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after 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 start of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to ensure its safe 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 is solved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's more common to write a letter that explains why the checks are essential and what will be required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all chimneys and gas appliances they offer 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. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
Installing gas safety certificate landlord in all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. 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 suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to 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 an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules governing this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 an official gas safety certificate. The decision was made based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals on boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. 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 allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.