Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the rented property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is gas safety certificate how often used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists 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 engineer who carried out the test.
The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is more common to write a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is required. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must 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 fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord must inform them why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant continues to refuse, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. Failure to comply with this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a record of their gas safety 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 make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that need to 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 essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.