Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer considers that any installation or appliance is immediately dangerous, they will request permission to shut off gas supply and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property were inspected by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of each 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 tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used 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, the results, any steps that need to be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who performed the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be conducted. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it is usually easier to send a letter that explains why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to initiate the eviction process.

How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances that are supplied to tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the building. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they should ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed every year.

A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They must keep a copy in the event that tenants request 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 annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission if needed. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter the landlord should inform them why the engineer is required and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant still refuses, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

What happens if I don't receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord 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 conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a crucial document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. This document contains information about gas installations in rental properties and the dates they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with their installation or appliances and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and Mkgassafety.Co.Uk face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must fix it. The rules governing this apply to council, private and housing association landlords and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection at the same time as a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer. They will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and cut off gas lines if necessary.