Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with a copy of the cp12 certificate Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the beginning of their lease.

CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer that conducted the test.

The engineer will offer advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be fixed to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is fixed.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what is gas safety certificate they will involve. This should entice the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.

how long does gas safety certificate last often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law 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 there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 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.

If a landlord is unable to 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 keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord must inform them why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord can consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

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

In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them tested each month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. This applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The decision was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks within the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that must be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the gas safe installation certificate Safety Check is completed.

It is important that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations 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 before entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off your gas supplies when necessary.