Five People You Should Know In The Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Industry

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards.

Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.

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

The engineer will provide advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline 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 shut off until the issue is fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, if not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction.

How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a qualified engineer.

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

A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant needs it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be  in danger during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission if necessary. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what would happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could cause a threat for 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 every tenant 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 and their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. 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 a six-month imprisonment.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. If  gas safe installation certificate  is not working, the landlord must fix it. The rules around this apply 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 illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals as well as look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow by visiting the property to force entry if needed.

Tenants must always request to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to letting them in to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.