Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediate danger, they will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition 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 the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer who performed 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 make it safe for use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting 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 to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed 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 by the landlord and must also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed every year.

If a landlord gas safety certificate cp12 is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what is a gas safety certificate would happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move in. Failure to comply with the law can lead to a landlord gas safety certificate how often being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how long does a gas safety certificate last contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new, 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 that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and have them tested every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. The rules around this apply to council, private and housing association landlords and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 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 a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was made by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.

How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

It is also a good idea for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is often called "landlord's gas safety certificate" but 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 issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It's important that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if required.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter 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 carry out the safety check. You should also be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.