5 Common Myths About Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service You Should Avoid
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants. If the engineer considers that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches. What is a Gas Safety Certificate? A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been examined by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are required to arrange an annual gas inspection for each rental property that they have at least once a year. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety standards. 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. This should be given to tenants within 28 days of 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 employed 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 test as well as the results of these tests, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection. If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what needs to be done to ensure its safe use. If an appliance is deemed dangerous immediately or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem has been resolved. If a tenant does not allow access for gas security checks to be conducted, it is an offence that is criminal. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to prohibit the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is often easier to send a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is involved. This will encourage a reluctant tenant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the process of eviction. How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate? The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and there are no gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are carried out by a licensed 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be provided to the tenant in order to demonstrate the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and must be renewed every year. If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be punished by the local authority. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the documentation in case a tenant needs it. Installing inspection hatches in all gas appliances is a good idea, since it allows engineers to gain access to the appliances for annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed. Landlords are also required to give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection 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 will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate? In essence, it's the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that their property is equipped with an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request. Landlords must have an Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During how to get gas safety certificate , the engineer will note any issues that could present a danger for 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 an important document that every tenant must get a hold of and keep. It contains information on the gas installations in a rented property and also details about when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they know how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined. Landlords are required to provide a gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new, within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also provide a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted under the rules and face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment. In the same way, landlords must make sure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord should make the necessary repairs. 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 ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to when tenants move in. How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To be in compliance with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues they supply for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate and it must be completed by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection. Landlords should also consider having a boiler inspection done in conjunction with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service for an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks as well as clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance. The CP12 is often called “landlord's gas safety certificate” but it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or issues that need to be addressed. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed. It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It's important to educate tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer is there to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to let access in it's the landlord's or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed. Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to allowing them to enter the property. This will confirm that the engineer is qualified to work on the systems in your home and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to know that a gas technician can legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.