15 Tips Your Boss Wished You Knew About Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected every year. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they comply with safety standards.

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

CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test as well as the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the test.

The engineer will offer advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is resolved.

If a tenant does not allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted it is an infraction that is punishable by law. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter which describes why the check is vital and what is required. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.

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

By law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren’t leaks of gas in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to are inspected for gas by a certified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.

A landlord who fails to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.

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

Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord should write to them explaining the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don’t follow through. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under 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 an official gas safety certificate that is valid before tenants move in. Infractions to this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a crucial document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not 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 send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move into it.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out 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 contains the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. 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 the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home’s systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally remove faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.