A New Trend In Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are inspected annually. The law also requires that 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 disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches be installed. What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A landlord gas safety certificate is a document that demonstrates that the gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required organize a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out the inspection and check that all pipework, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations. The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following each 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 tenancy. CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) before being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form contains the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any actions that must be taken, as well as the name and title of the engineer who conducted the check. If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what must be done to ensure it is safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal, the gas supply will need to be turned off until the problem is resolved. It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety inspection to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter that explains the reason why the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should entice tenants who are hesitant to let access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to begin the eviction process. How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate? By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. This is a vitally important responsibility for landlords and they should 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 check within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should also be given to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for a period of 12 months, and must be renewed every year. A landlord who fails to provide a Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the certificate in case a tenant requests it. It is also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and shut off the boiler and recommend that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed. Landlords must also give tenants at least 24 hours' notice prior entering the property to conduct Gas Safety Checks. This will allow tenants to prepare for the visit and provide permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access the landlord must inform them why the engineer is required and what happens if they don't comply. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord may consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. 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 a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations also stipulate that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. They will then issue a CP12 gas safety document, that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. This is an important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information on the gas appliances in a rented property, as well as details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can assist tenants in identifying problems with appliances or installations and ensure that they know how contact the Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked. Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety check report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also provide the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords who fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate could be prosecuted and face unlimited fines, or six months in prison. Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms and can arrange for them to be tested each month. If homeowner gas safety certificate isn't working, the landlord should fix it. This is applicable to private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation. In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain an approved gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into the property. How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease out are safe. This is covered under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. To comply with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install for use in a 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. It is also recommended for landlords to consider having a boiler service carried out simultaneously with the CP12 inspection, as it will help ensure that all the gas appliances are operating correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer a combined 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 document is commonly called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It contains the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions 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 essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. Then, they should visit the property and force entry if necessary. Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home, as this will prove that they're competent to work on your home's gas systems and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to shut off any malfunctioning equipment and can shut off your gas supplies if necessary.