Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who performed the inspection.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs 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 turned off until the problem has been solved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reason why the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and if not, the landlord might be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often should gas safety certificate grace period renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to get their gas inspections done by a qualified gas engineer.
gas safety certificate grace period , 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 given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If gas safety certificate homeowner is unwilling 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 essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failure to comply with the law can lead to the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm 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 the High Court decided that it was unlawful 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 tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. Then, they should visit the property and 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 competent to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off gas lines if necessary.