Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. You should also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any installation or appliance is immediate danger, they will request 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 which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If gas safety certificate for landlords is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This should make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check 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 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. moved here allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Infractions to this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important piece of documentation that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations in the rental property, as well as details on when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. 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 six months imprisonment.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document not 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 maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off your gas supply when necessary.