Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure 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 immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they are in compliance with safety regulations.

Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their lease.

CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who performed the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what must be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be shut off until the issue is resolved.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This should encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and flues that are supplied to their tenants. This is done to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and that there are no gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are completed by a qualified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection 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 prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

A landlord who is unable to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must keep a copy in case tenants request it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea because it lets engineers gain access to the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords are also required to provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should inform them why the engineer is required and what is gas safety certificate will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have a gas safe building regulations compliance certificate Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may pose a risk for tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is an important piece of documentation that all tenants should get a hold of and what is gas safety Certificate keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested and their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.

The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with an official gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure that the 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 inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, and it has to be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can i get a copy of my gas safe certificate typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer, who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work with your home's systems and therefore be trusted to carry out the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.