Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to 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) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to write a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial obligation and landlords must make sure that they have their gas inspections completed 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 last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and may disconnect the boiler and advise that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord should inform them why the engineer is required and what happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if gas safety certificate check don't receive 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 prior to the time tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property as well as information about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new 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 an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. This applies to private landlords, councils 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 stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
just click the next article that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.