Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.

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

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and that they comply with the safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every 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 new tenants at the start of their tenure.

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

The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue is fixed.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be conducted. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.

How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a qualified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

If a landlord gas safety certificates is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord should write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records 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, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat 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 a crucial document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and gas certificate make sure that they are aware of how much for landlords gas safety certificate to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.

Similar to this, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must fix it. The rules for 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 decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move into.

How do 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 these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it's actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the cp12 certificate document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.

Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines if necessary.