Lorene Baldwin

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure 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 deems any device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 gas safety certificate cp12 Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. 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 tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection or test as well as the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be disconnected until the issue is resolved.

If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. 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 often easier to send a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is required. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks in the property. 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 legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.

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

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

what is gas safety Certificate happens if I don't get a gas safety certificate cp12 Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property 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 cause a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant should be able to access and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in a rented property, as well as details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

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 in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move in.

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

Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. 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 at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated cp12 certificate inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the seals of boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that should 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 for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supply when necessary.