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As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous the engineer will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange the gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following 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 new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue is resolved.
If do homeowners need a gas safety certificate refuses to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is more common to write a letter that explains why the checks are essential and what will be involved. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, if not, the landlord might be required to begin the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to carry out an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to are inspected for gas by a qualified gas 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 performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy of the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It is also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection, the engineer will formally declare it to be at risk and may disconnect the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move into. Infractions to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of 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, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It contains information on the gas installations of the rental property as well as information on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying 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 their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and have them tested each month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should fix it. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations and also 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 a valid gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time 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 homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be signed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the seals on boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It is essential that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them 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 follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines when necessary.