Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every 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 new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the gas safety checks to be carried out, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and if otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a qualified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants stop 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 is refusing the engineer's entry, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may present a danger to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, 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 and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check 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 commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and have them tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 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 based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to think about having an annual boiler service performed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' but it is actually 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 must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.