Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.

What is a 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 property that is rented were inspected by an experienced gas safety certificate landlord engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.

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

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue is resolved.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if not, the landlord might be required to begin the eviction process.

How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are carried out by a certified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.

A landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances to conduct 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 suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

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

In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may present a danger to tenants. The engineer will 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. It contains information on the gas installations of a rented property, as well as details about when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property before tenants move into.

How do I get 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. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate cp12 gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It's important that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in it's 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 needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. Be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.