Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas safe register duplicate certificate supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.

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

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and 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 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 steps that must be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who performed the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem has been fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they will involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.

How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out 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 for use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must ensure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed 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. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to verify the safety of gas safety certificate landlord supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed each year.

A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should also keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move into. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety certificate cost).

This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations of a rental property as well as information about when they were last tested and when they expire. It will help tenants recognize 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 must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing the problem if the alarm does not work. 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 an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move in.

How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in 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 inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

It's also recommended for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.

Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply should it be required.