5 Laws Everybody In Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Should Know
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. The law also requires you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.
If the engineer considers that any installation or appliance is imminently dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they comply with safety regulations.
The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
CP12 is the abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and test, the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.
The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue has been resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order in the event of need, but it is usually much easier to simply send a strongly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are conducted and what they'll involve. This will encourage tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to carry out an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no leaks of gas in the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they have their gas inspections completed by a certified gas 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
If a landlord gas safety certificate how often fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants ask for 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 categorise the appliance as being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and give permission, if required. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.
What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's the landlord gas safety certificate how often's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may pose a risk to tenants. They will issue the 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 should keep. This document contains information about gas installations in a rental home and the dates they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, new and current, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
In the same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. 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 illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are required by law to ensure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
It's also a good idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Landlords are usually able to receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who will be able to examine the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is commonly known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.
It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants on the importance of giving 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 permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to entering the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to cut off any defective equipment and cut off gas safety certificate uk lines if necessary.