Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If view site… considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply 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. More Material should be handed out to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start 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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are made and what they'll involve. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
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 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 documentation in case a tenant requests it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate 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 electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that all tenants should take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must fix it. The rules around this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
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 by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies when necessary.