Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is 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 determines that any installation or appliance is immediate danger they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required 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 tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation of 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 tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the inspection.
The engineer will give advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be fixed to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be turned off until the issue is resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This should make a tenant more hesitant to give 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 gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
what is a landlord gas safety certificate is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property as well as information regarding when they last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can 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 their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested each month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.