20 Things You Need To Know About Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants. If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is immediate danger, they will request permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches. What is a Gas Safety Certificate? A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they are in compliance with safety standards. Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease. CP12 is an abbreviation for 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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that need to be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who conducted the inspection. The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include the items that need to be addressed to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be turned off until the problem is fixed. It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to send a clearly written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process. How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate? By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are carried out by a qualified engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within 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 a time of 12 months and must be renewed each year. If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant needs it. It is also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will declare it to be at risk and will shut off the boiler and suggest that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed. The landlords should also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice before they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate? In short, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants upon request. Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could pose a risk for tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. how long does a gas safety certificate last is an important piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. It includes information about the gas appliances in a rental property and also details about when they were last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined. Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail in providing the the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison. Similar to this landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations and also 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 decision was made based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move into. How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. It is also a good idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance. The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed. It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary. Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to disconnect faulty equipment and cut off your gas supply if necessary.