Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed 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, their results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be carried out. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it's often easier to write a letter that describes why the check is important and what's required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law 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 to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case 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. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and give permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
gas safety certificate grace period is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and have them tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must repair it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a 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 out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the building. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.