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 inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, www.mkgassafety.co.uk appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies 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 start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection or test and the results, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms 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 to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and may disconnect the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
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 in accordance with the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move into.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, 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 the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.