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Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances chimneys, flues and chimneys are regularly inspected. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants. If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately hazardous, they will ask for permission to cut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed. What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations. Landlords are also legally required to provide their tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This should be provided to current tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their lease. CP12 is an abbreviation of 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 test and the results of these tests, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, as well as the name of the person who performed the test. If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what must be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem has been solved. It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be carried out. If needed landlords can apply to the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to write a letter that clarifies why the checks are important and what's required. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the process of eviction. How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? The law requires that landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on the chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and that there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a crucial obligation and landlords must ensure that they are inspected for gas by a licensed gas engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document that indicates that an engineer completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually. A landlord who is unable to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it. Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to easily access the appliances to conduct annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that tenants refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed. The landlords should also ensure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice before they enter the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry the landlord should write to them explaining why the engineer is required and what will happen if they don't follow through. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act. What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate? In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate prior to the time tenants move into. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request. Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. This is a vital piece of documentation that all tenants should take possession of and keep. It contains information on the gas installations in the rental property and also details regarding when they last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify problems with appliances or installations and make sure they know how contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked. Landlords must provide a gas safety report to their tenants, new and current within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison. The same way landlords must ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their homes and make arrangements for them to be tested every month. If the alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to repair it. The rules for this are applicable to council, private, and housing association landlords, as well as to licensable houses of multiple Occupation (HMOs). 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 certification. The decision was made by reference to the law which states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move into. How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are legally responsible to make sure that the gas appliances, flues, and pipework in their homes are safe for tenants. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To ensure compliance with the regulations landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. Landlords should consider having a boiler inspection done at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service for a reasonable price. They will examine the seals on boiler burners as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance. The CP12 is often referred to by the term “landlord's gas safety certificate” however it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed. what is a gas safety certificate is crucial that the landlord or letting agent only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants of the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to allow access the agent or landlord must state the legal requirements in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if required. Tenants must always request to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally remove defective equipment or shut off your gas supply if needed.