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. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.

If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is immediate danger, they will request permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they comply with the safety regulations.

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

CP12 is an abbreviation for 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 lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.

It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety inspection to be conducted. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it is more common to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are essential and what will be required. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances 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 within the property. gas safety certificate duplicate inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.

If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and suggest that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also furnish 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 all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. They will then issue the 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 should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing, 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 begins. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. The rules around this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, and also to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service's gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that need to 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 important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to ensure that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.