Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service: 11 Thing You're Not Doing
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are inspected annually. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants. If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to shut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches. What is a Gas Safety Certificate? A landlord gas safety certificate is a document which demonstrates that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required conduct a gas safety inspection 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 and appliances as well as flues are in good working condition and that they comply with safety regulations. The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) at the time of every annual inspection and test for gas safety. The document should be handed out 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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results of these tests, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the check. The engineer will provide advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected to make it safe to use. If an appliance is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been resolved. If a tenant does not allow access for gas safety checks to be completed the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a strongly worded letter explaining why it is essential that the checks are made and what they will involve. This will make a tenant more hesitant to let access in, and if not, the landlord may need to consider starting the eviction process. How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate? The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are carried out by a licensed engineer. certificate cost (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed every year. A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy in case tenants request it. Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed. Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord should send a letter to them explaining the reason for the visit and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord may decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act. What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate? In short, it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certification before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request. Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will then issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate). This is a vital document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and make sure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked. Landlords must provide an inspection report on gas safety 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 a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines, or six months in prison. Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for repairing an alarm that does not work. 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 unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate. The ruling was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it. How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection in conjunction with a CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance. The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate', although it is officially called the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of 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 is essential that landlords and letting agents only allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It's a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow by visiting the property to force entry if necessary. Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before allowing them to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work with the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally allowed to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off your gas supply if necessary.