Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

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 that are in the rented property were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety standards.

Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a 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 tenancy.

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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas certificate device and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is solved.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to send a clearly worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This should entice the tenant who is hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.

how often gas safety certificate often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must ensure that they get their gas inspections done by a certified gas 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 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.

A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to permit the engineer to enter the landlord must inform them why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a gas certificate Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue a 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 all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rental property and also details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances and installations and make sure they know how often gas safety certificate to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must fix it. The rules for this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, and also 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 certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. 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 a good idea for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords are usually able to get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to give 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 only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.