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Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used 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 and tests, the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be fixed to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue is solved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If needed 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's usually easier to send a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is involved. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that 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 the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. landlord gas safety certificate price is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital document that all tenants should take possession of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to private, council 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 upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners and look 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', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that require attention. landlord gas safety certificate cost must provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.