Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework appliances, flues, and pipes 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), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
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, their results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been solved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it's more common to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. gas safety certificate uk are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are carried out by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant needs it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if necessary. If a tenant is refusing the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into the property. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. certificate cost was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. do i need a gas safety certificate is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections 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 landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off gas lines when necessary.