Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to organize a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used 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, their results, any steps that need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer that conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem is solved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will entail. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they should 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 affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants request it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to comply with this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rental property, as well as details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and have them tested every month. If certificate cost is not working, the landlord should fix it. The rules around this apply 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 unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply 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 must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called 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 details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It's important that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.