17 Reasons Not To Ignore 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 inspections. You must also provide a copy to your tenants. If the engineer determines that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous, they will request permission to disconnect the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches. What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certificate issued by a landlord is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the rental property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check once per year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they comply with the safety regulations. Landlords are also required by law to give their tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) after 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 an abbreviation of the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. 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 who performed the test. If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas device, the engineer will advise on what needs to be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous the gas supply needs to be disconnected until the problem is fixed. It is illegal for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to simply send a well written letter that explains why it is essential that the checks are conducted and what they will involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord has to initiate the eviction process. How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? In the law, landlords and agents for letting 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 their equipment is safe to use and there are no gas leaks in the property. This is a crucial responsibility and landlords should ensure that they are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is a legal document that confirms that the gas inspection was performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and must be provided to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months and has to be renewed every year. If a landlord is unable to 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 performed by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy of the certificate in case tenants request 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 found to be 'at risk' during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and will shut off the boiler and suggest that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch is installed. Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior to entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission, if required. If landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service refuses entry 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 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 home has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into the property. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords are required to 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 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 issue a CP12 gas safety document, which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. The document contains information about gas installations in a rental property as well as the date they were tested and their expiration dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installations and ensure they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked. Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and current within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment. The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. The landlord is responsible for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. The rules around this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). 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 certificate. The decision was made in accordance with the law that stipulates that landlords with assured shorthold tenancies must have an approved gas safety certificate for their property before tenants move into the property. How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework in the properties they rent out 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 arrange annual gas checks on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the building. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be filled out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection. It is also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having the boiler service completed at the same time as the CP12 inspection, since this will ensure that all gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Landlords can typically get a combined CP12 and boiler service for a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer who will be able to check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance. The CP12 is sometimes known as “landlord's gas safety certificate” however it is actually known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It outlines the outcomes of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document not later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed. It's important that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to visit the property for safety checks and maintenance. It's a good idea educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explaining that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If a tenant is hesitant to let access in it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow with a visit to the property to compel 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 has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and therefore be trusted to conduct the safety check. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect faulty equipment or cut off your gas supply if needed.