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. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's 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 for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains 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.

The engineer will provide advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what is a landlord gas safety certificate needs to be fixed to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.

How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are carried out by a qualified 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 completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.

If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in case tenants request it.

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

Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. 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 refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into the property. Infractions to this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations state 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 a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a landlord gas safety certificate how often Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is an important document that every tenant should get a hold of and keep. It includes information about the gas installations in the rental property as well as information on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

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

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 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 decision was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.

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

Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the 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 should be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the cp12 certificate document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about 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 allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off gas lines in the event of a need.