Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is 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 any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.

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

CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas safe installation certificate inspections and tests, their results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who conducted the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem is solved.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection 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 simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the process of eviction.

How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the gas safety certificate and boiler service Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.

A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if needed. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In short it's a landlord gas safety certificates's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a vital document that every tenant should be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of the rental property and also details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a gas safety certificate price Safe engineer to have them checked.

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

In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this apply to private, council and housing association landlords as well as to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move into.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the boiler burner's seals and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it's the landlord gas safety certificate's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.

Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to disconnect faulty equipment and can shut off gas lines when necessary.