As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rented property have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.
CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as 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 needs to be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter that explains why the checks are important and what's required. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important responsibility and landlords should make sure that they have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas 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 within the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be given to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.
If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with the 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 on time and keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also give 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 entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant still refuses then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offense that could result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must take possession of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide their tenants, mkgassafety both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection 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 that their tenancy starts. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 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 decision was based upon the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes 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 safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It's important that landlords or letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property. They should 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 duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can cut off your gas supply if necessary.
