Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's 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 beginning of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the inspection.
The engineer will give advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks in the property. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be given to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to 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 also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord should write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't comply. 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 happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be 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 an important piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations in the rental property as well as information regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and make sure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as 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 certification. The ruling was based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. This is covered under 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 they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is 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 important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. landlord gas safety certificate www.mkgassafety.co.uk 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 check. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.