Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is 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 deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask for permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for an annual gas inspection for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions required to be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who performed the inspection.

The engineer will give advice in the event that the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be addressed to make it safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the process of eviction.

How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for mkgassafety.Co.uk landlords and they should make sure that they are inspected for gas by a certified gas engineer.

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

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches on 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 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

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

In essence it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offense that could cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could cause a threat for tenants. The engineer will issue an 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 should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify 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 tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 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 certification. The ruling was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a gas safety record for their property prior to when tenants move into.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to make sure 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 ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be signed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Landlords can usually get a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. 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 and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access, the landlord or agent must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.