Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, 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) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given 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 of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.
The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. cp12 certificate will outline what needs to be fixed so that it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue has been resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who fails to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
Installing Going Listed here on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers easily access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access the landlord should inform them why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offense that could result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a 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 could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should 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 their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and 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 should also arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also 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 a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain an official 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 to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the building. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can usually obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial 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 about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with 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 allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supply if necessary.