This Is The New Big Thing In 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 as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. You should also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to disconnect gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 gas certificates Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who conducted the test.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is fixed.
If a tenant is unwilling to allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier 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 can convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the eviction process.
How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that an inspection of the gas supply has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the past 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 has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch has been installed.
Landlords must also give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if I don't receive 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 certificate prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could result in landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations state that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is a crucial piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how often gas safety certificate to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.
Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords, and also to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since it will help ensure that all gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out 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 outlines the outcomes of all safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access the agent or landlord must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if required.
Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in, as this will prove that they're qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off your gas supplies when necessary.