landlord gas safety certificate cp12 Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys undergo annual checks. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer considers an appliance or installation to be 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 for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and in compliance with the safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the test.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to send a clearly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are made and what they will involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and if not, the landlord may be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the building. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a licensed gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that an inspection of the gas supply has been completed by a qualified engineer 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 annually.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to plan their inspection and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses to permit the engineer to enter the landlord must write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
In short, it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also state 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 an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to 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. It includes information about the gas installations of a rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both new and existing 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 to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, as well as 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 certification. The decision was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a gas safety certificate and boiler service Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas safety certificate uk appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It is also a good idea for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate replacement safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues 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 essential that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. You should also be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.