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Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and in compliance with safety standards.
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 certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given 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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps required to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue is solved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be carried out. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to write a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is involved. This can make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and if otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas 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 also be given to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses to permit the engineer to enter, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't comply. If certificate cost refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could cause a threat to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information on the gas installations of a rental property and also details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must repair 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 ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be filled out 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 in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform 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 checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that need to 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 important that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.