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. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.
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 includes 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 that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed, it is a criminal offence. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which describes why the check is vital and what is required. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might be required to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed 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 past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be given to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to 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 penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property 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 then issue a CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact the 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 engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. The rules for this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as 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 an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and 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 with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.