gas safety certificate uk and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with 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 any new tenants at the start 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to begin the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a certified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been performed by a licensed engineer 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 a period of 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should take possession of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of the rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. The rules around this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as 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 an official gas safety certificate. The decision was made by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into the property.
How do certificate cost get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is crucial that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.