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 you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any installation or appliance is immediate danger they will ask permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection 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 are in compliance with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the test.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is fixed.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they'll involve. This can make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied 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 qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is given 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 has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should also keep a copy in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally 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.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety certificates 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 identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property, as well as details about when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installation and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing, 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 commences. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If Highly recommended Webpage is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.