Landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service (killer deal)

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure 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 permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the property that is rented have been inspected by an accredited 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 verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.

If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be carried out it is an offence that is criminal. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are vital and what is required. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.

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

In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas 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 inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed each year.

If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also 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 quickly access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may present a danger for tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a gas certificates Safety Certificate.

This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations of the rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with their appliances or installation and make sure that they are aware of how often gas safety certificate to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and arrange for them being tested each month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.