Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards.
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 tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test.
The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital 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 legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will classify 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 at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if necessary. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could pose a risk for tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that all tenants should be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of the rental property and also details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them checked every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords are required to give 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 access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supplies when necessary.