Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediate danger they will ask permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to initiate 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 safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to tenants. gas safety certificate cost is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access, the landlord should inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In Continuing , it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they install in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics of 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 allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Tenants must always request 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 the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.