Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for 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 prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are vital and what is required. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.
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 penalized by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. visit web site contains information about the gas appliances in a rented property, as well as details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules for this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems 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's important that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.