Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to 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. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is more common to write a letter that explains why the checks are important and what's involved. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must 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 punished by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documents 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 quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law could result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates 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 the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information on the gas installations in the rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
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 give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve 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 tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that 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 these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they provide for use within the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.