Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.

CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection or test, the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance the engineer will provide advice on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is resolved.

If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be carried out, it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are made and what they will involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do not, the landlord may have to think about starting the eviction process.

How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

In the law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys 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 property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are conducted by a certified engineer.

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

A landlord who does not provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. The engineer will categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare 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 happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offence that can lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations require that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may present a danger for tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is an important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information on the gas installations of the rental property, as well as details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

In the same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and arrange for them being checked every month. If an alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. The rules for this apply to private, council and housing association landlords as well as 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 a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

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

Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners, inspect for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it's actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of safety inspections, and specifics of any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords are required to give their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It's important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and cut off your gas supplies when necessary.