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 regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer considers that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual 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 start of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation for 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 identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test as well as the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe 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.

It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will entail. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, gas safety certificate and boiler service and if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are conducted by a qualified 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 last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk 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 give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if necessary. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry the landlord must send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what is gas safety certificate happens in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being charged or being fined a significant amount. The regulations state that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that could cause a threat 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 all tenants should be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested each month. If the alarm isn't functioning, the landlord gas safety certificate how often has to repair it. The rules around this apply to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs).

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 ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into it.

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

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. gas certificates Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all safety checks and details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to give their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas 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 for maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.

Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supply if necessary.