Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual inspections. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently 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 gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords must arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their 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 given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who performed the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If landlord safety certificate is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is a criminal offence. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it's often easier to write a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide 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 vitally important responsibility and landlords should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. on the main page is issued to the landlord and must be given to the tenant to prove the safety 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 a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord must send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could 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?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules governing this apply 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 decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide 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 required.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.