Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation used 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. gas safety certificate grace period of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This will encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to 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 which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not 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 crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler 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 give permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being charged or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an 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 note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to reach a 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 visiting their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants with 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 for safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.