Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.

CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer that conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been fixed.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might need to consider starting the eviction process.

how to get gas safety certificate often should I 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 that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must make sure that they 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 that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer access, the landlord should write to them explaining the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a landlord gas safety certificates Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is an important document that every tenant should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. The rules for 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 a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. 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 consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It's important that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility 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 allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas safety certificate what is checked engineer is able to legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.