Frederic Fornachon asked 1 เดือน ago
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service
As a landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
what is a gas safety certificate is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property have been checked by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they own at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, 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), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their lease.
CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed 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 actions required to be taken, and the name and the title of the engineer who conducted the check.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device the engineer will provide advice on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will need to be disconnected until the issue has been solved.
If a tenant refuses to permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reasons why it is crucial that the checks are carried out and what they’ll involve. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The landlords and letting agencies are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety check on all gas appliances and flues that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren’t leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed every year.
A landlord who does not provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. Gas Safety checks must be performed by landlords on time. They should keep a copy in case tenants ask for it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access the hatches for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours’ notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer the landlord has to explain why this is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant continues to refuse then the landlord should look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What is the consequence if you don’t possess 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 certification before tenants move into the property. Infractions to this law can result in the landlord being charged or fined severely. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.
Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check 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 an important piece of documentation that all tenants should be able to access and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked.
Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day that their tenancy begins. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or even six months in prison.
Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They should also arrange that they be tested each month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should repair it. This is the case for councils, private landlords, 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 cost. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move in.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas safety certificate for landlords inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the 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, as this will ensure that all the gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Landlords can typically obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable price from a professional gas safety certificate and boiler service engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, check the flue system for cracks and leaks as well as clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the ‘landlord’s gas safety certificate’ however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.
It is important that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it is the landlord’s or letting agent’s duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is qualified to work on your home’s systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. It’s important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to cut off any defective equipment and can shut off gas lines when necessary.
