Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety inspection once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation used 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply should be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial obligation and landlords must be sure to are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is given 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 needs to be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure 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 repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 certificate. The decision was in accordance with the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the building. 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 is also recommended for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. gas safety certificate uk is essential to inform tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
certificate cost should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is competent to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. do i need a gas safety certificate 's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines if necessary.