Landlord
Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler ServiceAs a
landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for
gas safety certificate uk safety. 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 for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used 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, and the name and title of the engineer who performed the inspection.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted it is an offence that is criminal. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is more common to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and
what is a landlord gas safety certificate will be involved. This can 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?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue an CP12
gas certificates safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and have them tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 in June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease are safe.
gas safety certificate and boiler service Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all 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 consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.