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 every year. The law also requires that you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.

Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with an original 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 of 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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.

The engineer will give advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem is solved.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out it is an offence that is criminal. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will entail. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the gas safe certificate check Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should 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 every year.

A landlord safety certificate who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant needs it.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if necessary. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord must inform them the reason for the visit and what happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using 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 is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a vital document that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in a rented property as well as information about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

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 based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.

How do i need a gas safety certificate I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they install in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

It's also recommended for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within 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', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.

Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home to ensure that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.