Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required 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 of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law 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. The document should be handed out 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally easier to send a clearly written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord may be required to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a certified gas 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant needs 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 categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with 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 is fitted with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined heavily. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords with 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 legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. how to get gas safety certificate are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is 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 duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure 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 technician can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.