Waldo Barney

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

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

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.

Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer that conducted the test.

The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas safe certificate check appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be conducted. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from preventing gas safety inspections. However, it's usually easier to send a letter which describes why the check is important and what's required. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process.

How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to 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 punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in the event that tenants request it.

It's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords should also make sure 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 gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order 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 present a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a vital document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and make sure 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, both current and new within 28 days of the date that 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 that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being tested each month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should fix it. The rules governing this apply 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 unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.

how to get gas safety certificate do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring 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 ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done simultaneously with an cp12 certificate inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate cost', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must give their 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 a good idea to educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off your gas supplies when necessary.