Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants. If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is immediate danger 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 and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they comply with safety regulations. Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenure. CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions required to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who performed the check. If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure 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 resolved. It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This can make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process. How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate? The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a certified engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year. If a landlord does not provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial 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 requests it. Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for their annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed. Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate? In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations require 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 an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate). This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information on the gas installations of a rented property as well as information about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked. Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, both 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 starts. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment. Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. discover this can also arrange that they be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation. In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move in. How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they install in the building. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance. The CP12 is sometimes known as landlord's gas safety certificate, although it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics about 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 is essential that landlords and letting agents 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 importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed. Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and efficiently. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.
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