Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate (please click the next document) is a document that demonstrates that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they comply with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation 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 that must be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who conducted the test.
The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be fixed so that it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem has been fixed.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of an infraction that is punishable by law. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This can make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must make sure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety certificate cost (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord gas safety certificate cp12 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 may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can result in landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could present a danger for tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords must give a gas safety report 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 that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange that they be tested each month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 in June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The decision was in accordance with the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into the property.
how much gas safety certificate do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. 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 called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It is also recommended for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The cp12 certificate is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords are required to 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 allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if needed.
Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home to prove that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.