Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service: It's Not As Difficult As You Think

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection once per year for each rental property they own. 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 a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.

CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed 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, their results, any steps required to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the inspection.

The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been solved.

If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to send a clearly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the process of eviction.

How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property.  gas safety certificate landlord  is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a qualified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.

A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as  being at-risk and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates 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 cause a threat to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas appliances in a rental property, as well as details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and make sure they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into the property.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is called 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 consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if needed.

Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off your gas supplies if necessary.