Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that 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 determines that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas from the system 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 certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used 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, the results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who performed the test.
The engineer will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request 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 categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter 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 can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offense that could cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital piece of documentation that all tenants should take possession of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rented property as well as information regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing 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 begins. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them checked every month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to repair it. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords as well as to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 certification. The ruling was based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that should be taken care of. 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 only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.