Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that 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 gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, 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 of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who performed the test.
The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter that explains the reason why the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are carried out by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not 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 ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it 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 gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and give permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses entry 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 still refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rented property, as well as details on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installation and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 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 a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
landlord gas safety certificate 's also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is 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 the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.