11 Strategies To Completely Block Your Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
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. You must also give a copy of the report to your tenants.
If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to cut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues within the rented property have been checked by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. The inspection is performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working order and in compliance with safety standards.
Landlords are also legally required to provide tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) at the end of each year's 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 used 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 contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps required to be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally dangerous the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved.
It is a crime to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety test to be conducted. If necessary, a landlord can ask the courts for a court order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is more common to send a letter which explains why the checks are essential and what will be required. This will make a tenant more hesitant to give access, and if otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the process of eviction.
How often should I renew my Gas Safety Certificate?
The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't any leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they should ensure that they are conducted by a licensed engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to verify the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed every year.
A landlord who is unable to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They must also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.
It is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access the hatches for annual inspections. The engineer will categorise the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords are also required to give their tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission if they need. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason for this and what will happen in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is still refusing, then the landlord should consider evicting them using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
What happens if you don't have a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence it's a landlord's legal duty to ensure that their home has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to adhere to this law could result in the landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations require that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. The engineer will then issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).
This is an important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home, including when they were tested and expiration dates. It can assist tenants in identifying issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact a Gas Safe Engineer to have them tested.
Landlords must give a gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy commences. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment.
Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested each month. The landlord is responsible for fixing an alarm that does not work. The rules around this apply to council, private, and housing association landlords as well as to licensable Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move in.
How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks on all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.
It's also recommended for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, as this will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating 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 as well as look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance.
The CP12 is sometimes referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It contains the results of the safety checks, as well as specifics about any issues or actions that should 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 landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property to conduct safety checks and for maintenance. It is crucial to educate tenants about the importance of allowing gas engineers access to the property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to keep them safe from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing. Then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.
Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to they allow them into the home to ensure that they are properly qualified to work on your home's gas systems and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and efficiently. It is also important to know that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect the malfunctioning equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.