Do Not Buy Into These "Trends" Concerning Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
landlord gas safety certificate and Boiler service [trade-britanica.trade]
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer deems any device or installation to be immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches be put in place.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property they have at least once a year. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with the safety regulations.
Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any 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 shows the date of the last gas safe certificate check inspection and test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.
The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be addressed so that it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue has been solved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This will convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the process of eviction.
How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure they are carried out by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within 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 each year.
A landlord who is unable to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and keep a copy of the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.
It's also a good idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses entry to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into the property. Infractions to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that could pose a risk for tenants. The engineer will then issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important piece of documentation that every tenant must take possession of and keep. It contains information on the gas installations in a rented property as well as information on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.
Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based on the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
how often gas safety certificate do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To ensure 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. It must be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also think about having a boiler inspection done at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will inspect the boiler burner's seals and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's job is to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access, the landlord gas safety certificate price or agent must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if needed.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supply when necessary.