11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances as well as chimneys and flues are inspected every year. The law also requires that you provide a copy of the check to your tenants.

If the engineer deems any appliance or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to disconnect the gas supply and recommend that inspection hatches are installed.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A landlord's gas safety certificate is an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property that is rented have been inspected by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record) after every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be given to tenants within 28 days after the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

CP12 is an abbreviation 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 shows the date of the last gas inspection and test, the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the check.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance and the engineer will give advice on what should be done to ensure its safe use. If a gas appliance is found to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply must be disconnected until the issue has been solved.

If a tenant refuses to allow access for the gas safety checks to be completed, it is an infraction that is punishable by law. 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 will entail. This should entice a tenant who is reluctant to allow access to the property. If not the landlord is not willing, he will have to start the eviction procedure.

How often should I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

By law, 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 done to ensure that the equipment is safe for them to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are a crucial obligation for landlords, and they must ensure they are completed by a licensed 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 inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be presented to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months, and has to be renewed each year.

A landlord who is unable to provide the Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be fined. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out on time and keep a copy of the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it.

It is also an excellent idea for landlords to put inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that the engineers can easily access them for annual inspections. The engineer will label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may recommend that the tenant refrain from using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed.

Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and ask permission if needed. If a tenant does not allow the engineer access, the landlord should inform them the reason for the visit and what will happen in the event that they do not comply. If the tenant still refuses, 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 their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants on request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to conduct a gas check on all gas appliances. During the inspection, the engineer will note any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. They will then issue the CP12 gas safety certificate that is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate.

This is a crucial piece of documentation that every tenant should be able to access and keep. This 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 identify any issues with their installation or appliances and make sure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them examined.

Landlords must give an inspection report on gas safety to their tenants, new and existing 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 that their tenancy commences. Landlords who fail to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted under the regulations and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

Additionally, landlords should ensure that their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing an alarm that does not work. This is the case for private landlords, councils and housing associations, and also licensable houses of Multiple Occupation.

In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate.  safety certificates  was based on a law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to have a gas safety certification for their property prior to when tenants move in.

How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To comply with the regulations landlords must conduct annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install to tenants. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also think about conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a professional gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and perform general maintenance.

The CP12 document is commonly referred to as the 'landlord gas safety certificate' however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety inspections, and specifics about any issues or actions that should be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants the CP12 document within 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is essential that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is essential to inform tenants on the importance of allowing gas engineers access to their property and explain that the engineer's presence is necessary to protect them from carbon dioxide poisoning. If the tenant refuses to permit access, the landlord or agent must outline the legal obligations in writing. They should then go to the property and force entry if necessary.

Tenants should always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before they allow them into the home to ensure that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and are able to complete the gas safety check efficiently and efficiently. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supply in the event of a need.