Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected every year. 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 supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety standards.
Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps required to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem is resolved.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are important and what's required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. cp12 certificate is given to the landlord and should be given to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
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 essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could result in landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for 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. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of a rental property as well as information on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. The rules around this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 decision was by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supplies if necessary.