Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger, they will request permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and name of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
The engineer will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be turned off until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are conducted by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify 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 provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access, the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what happens if they don't follow through. 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 I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move in. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
MK Gas Safety registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their appliances or installation and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
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 are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about 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 are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property 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 is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply should it be required.