The 10 Scariest Things About 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 checks. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will ask permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every 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 new tenants at the start of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and 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 ensure it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is solved.

If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to stop the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's often easier to write a letter that describes why the check is essential and what will be required. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service has to begin the eviction process.

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

In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to get their gas inspections done by a licensed gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed each year.

A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In short it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could result in landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations require that landlords must also furnish copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue an CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord gas safety certificate replacement Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must be able to access and keep. It contains information on the gas installations of a rental property, as well as details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for councils, private landlords, and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017, the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into.

How do homeowners need a gas safety certificate I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. 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 supply for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

It's also recommended for landlords to look into having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer. They will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.

Tenants should always be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally shut off faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.