Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service: What's The Only Thing Nobody Is Talking About

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual inspections. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants. If the engineer believes that any 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 an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all the rented property's gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to organize a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations. The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the 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 beginning of their tenure. CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests and the results, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the engineer who carried out the test. The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be fixed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem has been resolved. If a tenant does not allow access for gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If needed the landlord has the right to ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from refusing to allow gas safety inspections. However, it is often easier to send a letter which explains why the checks are essential and what will be required. This can make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process. How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords and letting agents are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords, and they must ensure that they are completed by a qualified engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed annually. If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it. It's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch is installed. Landlords must also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice before they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant continues to refuse the engineer entry, then the landlord must consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate? It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to do this is an offense that could result in landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must give an electronic copy of the gas safety record to their tenants on request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection the engineer will be able to identify any issues that could present a danger to tenants. They will issue a CP12 gas safety certificate, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. This is a crucial document that every tenant must keep. It contains information on the gas appliances in the rental property as well as information regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they are aware of how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them examined. Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail in providing the copy of the gas certificate may be prosecuted and could face unlimited fines or even six months in prison. Similarly, Full Statement must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. The landlord is responsible for fixing any alarm that doesn't work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation. In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to send Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made based on the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in. How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they rent out are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues that they install in the building. his explanation is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection. It's also recommended for landlords to think about having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are functioning correctly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will check the seals on boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks 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 safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that need to be taken care of. Landlords are required to provide their tenants the CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed. It is essential that the landlord or letting agent only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if needed. Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before entering the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work on the systems in your home 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 shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off gas lines when necessary.