Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and [Redirect Only] chimneys undergo annual inspections. 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 ask permission to cut off the gas safe register duplicate certificate supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.

Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenure.

CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must 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 turned off until the problem has been fixed.

It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is generally easier to send a clearly written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to let access in, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are carried out by a qualified engineer.

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

If a landlord gas safety certificates is unable to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the documents in case a tenant requests it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that the tenant refrain from using it until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and grant permission if needed. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.

What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?

In short it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification before tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety certificate to their tenants on request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger 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 very important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances and installations and make sure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety 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 begins. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules governing this apply to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 the High Court decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a record of their gas safety for [Redirect Only] their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas safety certificate what is checked checks on all the gas appliances and flues that they supply for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate for landlords Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should consider performing 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 receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or issues that require attention. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants about the importance of giving gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer's job is to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to compel entry if needed.

Tenants must always request to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and is able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. 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 when necessary.