Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords (click the following website) is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas safety certificate uk engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by an gas safety certificate cp12 Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they comply with safety standards.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies 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 following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who performed the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem has been fixed.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed it is a criminal offence. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it's more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. 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?

By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must be sure to get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of 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 an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord gas safety certificates must 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 an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and gas safety certificate for landlords liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. It contains information on the gas safe certificate check installations of the rental property, as well as details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.

Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should repair it. The rules around 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 a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, gas safety certificate for landlords and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if required.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.