Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.

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

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that proves that all of the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange the gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and in compliance with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every 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 an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who performed 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 so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be turned off until the issue has been resolved.

If a tenant does not permit access to the gas security checks to be conducted it is an offence that is criminal. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier to send a clearly worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are conducted and what they'll involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and if not, the landlord might be required to begin the process of eviction.

how often gas safety certificate often do I need to renew my gas safety certificate grace period Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should ensure that they get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed every year.

A landlord who does not 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 in case tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that may present a danger for Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service 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 a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. It includes information about the gas installations of the rental property as well as information regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure they are aware of how long does a gas safety certificate last to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety 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 who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord has to fix it. The rules for this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords as well as to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

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 an official gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move in.

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

Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they rent 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 checks on all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the 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 for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if required.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines in the event of a need.