Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is immediate danger the engineer will request permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.
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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test.
The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be fixed to make it safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
If a tenant does not allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. landlord gas safety certificate price may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't leaks of gas in the property. gas safe register duplicate certificate are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are conducted by a qualified 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 within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and must be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord 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 for tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a vital piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rented property as well as information regarding when they last tested and when they expire. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.
In gas safe register duplicate certificate must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.