Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the check.
The engineer will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been fixed.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out it is a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they get their gas inspections done by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter the landlord must inform them why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could present a danger to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and make sure 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 report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed 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 a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must give their 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 to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.