Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.

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

what is gas safety certificate is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with the safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results of these tests, 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 device the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are important and what's required. This can make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the eviction process.

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

In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial obligation and landlords must ensure that they get their gas inspections done 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 given to the landlord and must be handed over to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year.

A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will 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 give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord gas safety certificates must write to them explaining the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

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

It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will note any problems that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is an important piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and existing 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 starts. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.

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

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 be in compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be signed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.

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

It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas safety certificate price supply if needed.