A New Trend In Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual inspections. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.

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

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the property that is rented have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and in compliance with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their lease.

CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the inspection.

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 gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been resolved.

If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be carried out, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a strongly written letter that explains the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.

How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all 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 gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out by a certified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be handed over to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed every year.

A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant requests it.

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

Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

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

It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords 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 to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to 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 document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must repair it. This is applicable to 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 issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move into it.

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

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas  safety certificate " however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.