7 Simple Strategies To Totally Rocking Your Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If landlord gas safety certificate considers that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with a copy 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 for 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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed it is an offence that is criminal. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it's often easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check 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. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to are inspected for gas by a certified gas 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 within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be given to the tenant to prove the security 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 the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. 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 are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report 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 could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
gas safety certificate landlord is an important piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease 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 that they install to tenants. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies when necessary.