gas safety certificate how often and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants 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 provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains 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 performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are essential and what will be required. This can encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the process of eviction.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner 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 easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations require 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 for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety certificate 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 take possession of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in a rental property as well as information on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being tested each month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as 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 decision was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move into it.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals of boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is 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 their property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and 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 can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supply when necessary.