Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
The engineer will give advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem has been fixed.
It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for an order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to write a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is required. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility and landlords should make sure that they get their gas inspections done 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 in the last 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 12 months and has to be renewed each year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if needed. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord can consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important piece of documentation that every tenant must take possession of and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules governing this apply to council, private, 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 certification. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies when necessary.