Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given 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, their results, any steps required to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue has been solved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are important and what's required. This can make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon 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 the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If the alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. cp12 certificate governing this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, and also to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply 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 filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required.
Tenants should always have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off gas lines if necessary.