Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a 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 are in compliance with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is fixed.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This can make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are conducted by a certified 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 conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.
A landlord who is unable to provide the 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 an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy 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 the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing, 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 that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must fix it. The rules governing this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
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 a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off your gas supplies if necessary.