Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants.

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

What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rental property were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working condition and in compliance with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each annual inspection and test for gas safety. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, their results, any steps that must be taken, as well as the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a homeowner gas safety certificate appliance is found to be immediate danger or abnormally lethal, the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue is fixed.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly written letter that explains the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to initiate the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure that they are carried out by a certified 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 in the last 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 12 months, and has to be renewed every year.

If a landlord is unable to provide their tenants with the Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.

Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea as it allows engineers to quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission, if required. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer access the landlord should send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must think about evicting them under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

In short, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide a copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have an gas safety certificate cost Safe registered engineer visit their rental property for a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will note any problems that could be a threat to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety document, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a very important document that every tenant should keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and their expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances and installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.

Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy starts. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate can be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. The rules for this are applicable 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 decided that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The decision was made in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into the property.

how often gas safety certificate can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

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

It is also recommended for landlords to think about having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all the gas appliances are operating in a safe and efficient manner. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often known as "landlord's gas safety certificate" but it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not permit access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary.

Tenants should always ask to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to disconnect faulty equipment and can shut off your gas supplies when necessary.