17 Reasons You Shouldn t Ignore Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
what is a landlord gas safety certificate is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a licensed gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
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 includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any actions that must be taken, and the name and name of the engineer who performed the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to make it safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be turned off until the issue is resolved.
If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed, it is 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 well worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are required by law to carry out an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should be sure to have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it.
Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler service and gas safety certificate and suggest that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they visit the property to carry out 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 happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move into. Infractions to this law could result in a landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations also state that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord gas safety certificate cost in order to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas safety certificate what is checked certificate can be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible 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 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 leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property before tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To comply with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they provide to tenants. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to look into having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and 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 landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access, the landlord or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to carry out the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.