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 regularly inspected. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted, it is a criminal offence. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are important and what's required. This will encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are conducted by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a 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 on time and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant must take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similar to this landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 an official 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 (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To comply with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.