Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any installation or appliance is immediate danger the engineer will request permission to shut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
how long does gas safety certificate last is a document that proves that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property they own at least once a year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and 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) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and 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) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the check.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been performed by a licensed engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants 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 is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if what is a landlord gas safety certificate don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords are required to 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 the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that all tenants should be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules governing this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 an official gas safety certificate. The decision was made based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. 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 provide to tenants. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system, 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 lists the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. 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 explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supplies if necessary.