10 Things We All Love About Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. The law also requires that you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to 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 pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance 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. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the issue has been resolved.

It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they'll involve. This can make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may be required to begin the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed each year.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to gain access to 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 has been installed.

Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may present a danger for tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and make sure they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this apply 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 an official gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move into.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure  gas safety certificate replacement  with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.

Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises to prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.