Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter that explains the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide 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 vitally important responsibility and landlords should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.
If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of 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.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety records 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, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then 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. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and have them checked every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this are applicable to private, council 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 serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It's important that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.