Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual inspections. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used 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 that conducted the test.
The engineer will provide advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they'll involve. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. https://menwiki.men/wiki/It_Is_The_History_Of_Gas_Safety_Certificate_Cost_In_10_Milestones must keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital document that every tenant should take possession of and keep. It contains information on the gas installations of a rental property as well as information on when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and make sure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and have them tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supply when necessary.