landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service (moved here)

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

If the engineer determines that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they 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. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered gas safety certificate replacement Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.

The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.

It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to send a letter which clarifies why the checks are important and what's required. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process.

how often gas safety certificate often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they provide to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are conducted by a certified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate 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. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs 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 deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord must send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should 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 essence, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord gas safety certificate cost must provide an original copy of their gas safety certificate duplicate safety report to their tenants on request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is an important document that every tenant must keep. It includes information about the gas installations in the rental property as well as information regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure they are aware of how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 in June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance 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 filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also recommended for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.