20 Up-And-Comers To Follow In The Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Industry

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A  gas safety certificate for landlords  is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and test as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need 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 device, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be turned off until the issue has been resolved.

If a tenant does not allow access for the gas security checks to be conducted it is a criminal offence. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is usually much easier to simply send a well written letter stating the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are made and what they will entail. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to allow access to the house. If not the landlord has to begin the eviction process.

How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

The landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are completed by a certified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that affirms 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 to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed annually.

A landlord who does not provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore crucial for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it.

It is also a good idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will classify the appliance as  being at-risk and may suggest 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 tenants to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow the engineer entry the landlord should inform them why it is necessary and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant still refuses, 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?

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to comply with this law can result in the landlord being prosecuted or being fined a significant amount. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

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

This is an important piece of documentation that every tenant should take possession of and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in a rented property, as well as details on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants identify issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.

Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

Landlords are required by law to ensure that 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 be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer, who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes known as "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer can legally remove the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply should it be required.