Watch Out: How Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Is Taking Over The World And What We Can Do About It

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.

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

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they have at least once a year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 required to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is resolved.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed, it is a criminal offence. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.

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

Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should ensure that they have their gas inspections completed by a qualified gas 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 inspection in the last 12 months.  landlord gas safety certificate  is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed every year.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant needs it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be  in danger during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

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

In short it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could present a danger for tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the 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 and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. The rules governing this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to 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 essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required.

Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.