The Most Important Reasons That People Succeed In The Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Industry

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. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be put in place.

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 that are in the property that is rented have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for a gas check for each rental property they own at least once per year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues comply with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after each annual inspection and test for gas safety. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and 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 outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply must be turned off until the problem has been fixed.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will entail. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to allow access and, if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the process of eviction.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety inspection on all flues and gas appliances 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. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are completed by a qualified engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed each 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. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documents in the event that a tenant asks for it.

Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, as it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as  being at-risk and may recommend that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch has been 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 they need. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord must send a letter to them explaining the reason for the visit and what will happen if they don't comply. If the tenant still refuses the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

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

It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property is fitted with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will take note of any issues that may present a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is an important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations in the rental property and also details regarding when they last checked and the expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.

Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate can be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange for them to be tested every month. If  his explanation  is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. This is applicable to councils, private landlords, and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 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 a valid gas safety certification. The decision was made based on 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 do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to arrange annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate, and it has to be completed by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

It's also an excellent idea for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for leaks and cracks cleaning the burner and heat exchanger and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 document is often referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must give their tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and 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 your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.