Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and in compliance with the safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.

CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed 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 actions required to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who conducted the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem has been fixed.

It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are made and what they’ll involve. This will make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process.

How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of all 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 leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are conducted by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves 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 also be given to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.

A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as ‘at-risk’ and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses the engineer’s entry the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

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

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move in. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.

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

This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must 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 give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. The rules for this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, and also 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 ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term “landlord’s gas safety certificate” but it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in, it’s the landlord or letting agent’s duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. Continuing is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supply if necessary.