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Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. You should also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger, they will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is 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 within the rental property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. his explanation must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter which describes why the check is important and what's required. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.
How often do I need to 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 that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed 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 must be provided 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.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Infractions to this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in a rented property as well as information on when they were last tested and when they expire. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the installation or appliances and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable 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 be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.