Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service: What Nobody Is Talking About

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.

What is 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 rental property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and 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 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 any new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.

The engineer will give advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is resolved.

If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted, 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 the gas safety inspections. However, it's often easier to send a letter which describes why the check is vital and what is involved. This should entice the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.

How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed annually.

A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.

It is 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 categorise the appliance as  being at-risk and may recommend 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 prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access the landlord should write to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a vital document that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas appliances in the rental property, as well as details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and make sure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

gas safety certificate duplicate , landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. The rules around this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as to 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 a valid gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed 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 all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues 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's important that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must explain 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 is qualified to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.