Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework 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 an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue is fixed.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be carried out. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it's more common to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting 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 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 within the property. This is a crucial obligation and landlords must ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger 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 very important document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. 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 it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and 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 allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.