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 Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

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

What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and in compliance with the safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following 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 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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.

It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it is usually easier to write a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is involved. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and in the event that they do homeowners need a gas safety certificate not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.

A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant needs it.

It's also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

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

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide the 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 the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate also arrange for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must repair it. The rules governing this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into it.

How can I obtain 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. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also recommended for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate grace period safety certificate", although it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.