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 every year. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted, it is a criminal offence. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is 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 a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas 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 past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the safety 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 a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into the property. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It includes information about the gas installations in the rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
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. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In gas safe installation certificate 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 based upon the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the 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 consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off gas lines if necessary.