Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. 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 that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter which describes why the check is important and what's required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant 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 agents are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection 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 must be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas appliances in a rented property as well as information about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If the alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In how much gas safety certificate 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 by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In gas safety certificate and boiler service to comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use within the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.