Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off gas safety certificate uk from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.

Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must 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 lists the date of the last gas inspection or test as well as the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues 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 disconnected until the issue is resolved.

It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety inspections. However, it's usually easier to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are important and what's involved. This will make a tenant more hesitant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a qualified engineer.

The gas certificate Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the documents in case a tenant needs it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

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

In essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to do this is 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 certificates to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may present a danger for tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and make sure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the regulations and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord should repair it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable price from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler service and gas safety certificate burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.

Tenants should always have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises, as this will prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supplies when necessary.