Five People You Must 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, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer determines that an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and in compliance with the safety regulations.

Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.

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

The engineer will give advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected so that it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the problem is resolved.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. If necessary landlords can apply to the courts for an order to prohibit the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety checks. However, it's usually easier to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might be required to begin the eviction process.

How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are completed by a certified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant needs it.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as  being at-risk and may suggest that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Infractions to the law can lead to the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily.  gas safe installation certificate  stipulate that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate 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 take note of any issues that may present a danger to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a crucial document that every tenant must be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in rental properties as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.

The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules for this are applicable to private, council and housing association landlords, as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

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 an official 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 into it.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on 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 must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to look into having an annual boiler service performed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as 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 details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.