Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service The Process Isn't As Hard As You Think

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.

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

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a certified 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 the inspection and verify 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) at the time of each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the inspection.

The engineer will provide advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue is fixed.

If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of an offence that is criminal. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This can convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out by a qualified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year.

A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be  in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and shut off the boiler and advise 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 tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer entry the landlord must send a letter to them explaining the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant is still refusing then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is an important 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 any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property.  do homeowners need a gas safety certificate  must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.

Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and have them tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

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 decision was based on the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a 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.

Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It's important that the landlords or letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.

Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.