Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. You should also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation 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 actions that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will entail. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. gas certificate is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offense that could result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may present a danger to tenants. gas certificate will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 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?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the 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 ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform 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 contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises to prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off your gas supplies when necessary.