Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is 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 must arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they have at least once a year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a certified 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 in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offence that can lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During landlord gas safety certificate how often will be able to identify any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should take possession of and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. landlord gas safety certificate cp12 who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and have them checked every month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. The rules governing this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as 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 certification. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being 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's important to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.