Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires that you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
cp12 certificate for landlords is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, 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 must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to 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, as well as the name and name of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and letting agents are required 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 appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
right here is a vital piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in a rental property as well as information about when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to 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 conduct the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.