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 inspected annually. The law also requires that you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
gas safety certificate near me for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. 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 comply with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem has been solved.
If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to send a letter that describes why the check is important and what's involved. This can make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility and landlords should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as '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 prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure 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 ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply to tenants. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and details of any problems or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off your gas supply if necessary.