The 10 Most Scariest Things About Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service
Landlord gas safety certificate and Boiler service (www.mkgassafety.co.uk)
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues and chimneys are inspected annually. You must also provide a copy to your tenants.
If the engineer determines that an device or installation to be immediately dangerous they will request permission to shut off the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the rented property’s gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified 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 the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues comply with safety regulations.
Landlords are also required by law to provide tenants with copies of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. This must be given to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure.
CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form includes the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that need to be taken, as well as the name and name of the engineer that conducted the inspection.
If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues 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 must be turned off until the issue is resolved.
It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to let the gas safety check to be carried out. If necessary the landlord has the right to ask the courts for a court order to stop the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it is usually easier to send a letter that describes why the check is vital and what is involved. This should encourage tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord has to start the eviction procedure.
How often should I renew my 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 that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren’t leaks of gas in the property. Gas inspections are an essential obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a qualified engineer.
The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which affirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection in the last 12 months. It is given to the landlord and must be given to the tenant as proof of the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed annually.
A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They should keep a copy in case tenants request 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 label the appliance as being at-risk and may suggest that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.
Landlords must also provide their tenants with at least 24 hours’ notice before entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows the tenants to prepare for the visit and grant permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow access to the engineer, the landlord must explain why this is necessary and what happens should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.
What happens if you don’t have a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to ensure that their property has an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can result in landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must give an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants on request.
Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat to tenants. They will issue an CP12 gas safety certificate, which is known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.
This is a vital piece of documentation that every tenant must take possession of and keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested as well as their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the installation or appliances and ensure that they know how to reach a Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.
Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. The landlord is also required to provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords that fail to provide the the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison.
In the same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and have them checked every month. If the alarm is not working, the landlord must repair it. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.
In June 2017 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 certification. The decision was made by reference to the law which stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have a gas safety record for their property prior to the time tenants move into.
How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the homes they lease are safe. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues that they provide for use within the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and it must be completed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.
Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will check the boiler burner’s seals and look for leaks and cracks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and carry out general maintenance.
The CP12 document is often known as the ‘landlord’s gas safety certificate’ but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all safety inspections and the details of any actions or problems that need to 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 important that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants about the importance of permitting gas engineers access to the property. They should explain that the engineer’s job is to safeguard them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it’s the landlord’s or letting agent’s duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing. Then follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.
Tenants should always see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before entering the premises, as this will prove that they are properly qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas technician can legally shut off the malfunctioning equipment or cut off the gas supply in case of need.
