Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service: What Nobody Is Talking About
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. The law also requires you give a copy of the check to your tenants. If the engineer considers an appliance or installation as being immediately dangerous, they will request permission to cut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed. What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that certifies that all gas appliances and flues in the rented property have been checked by an experienced gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to organize a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they comply with the safety regulations. Landlords are also legally required to give their tenants a 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 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 being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and test, the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the inspection. The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be corrected in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a gas appliance is found to be Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be shut off until the issue has been resolved. It is illegal to a tenant who refuses to allow the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally easier to simply send a well written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they'll involve. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and if otherwise, the landlord could need to consider starting the process of eviction. How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate? The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual gas safety inspection of all gas appliances and chimneys they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the equipment is safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a crucial responsibility for landlords and they should make sure that they get their gas inspections done by a qualified gas engineer. The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is legal document that confirms that a gas inspection has been conducted by a qualified engineer in the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord and should be presented to the tenant in order to demonstrate the safety of gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year. If a landlord fails to provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are in violation of the law and could be punished by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be completed by landlords in time. They must also keep a copy in case tenants ask for 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 label the appliance as 'at-risk' and may suggest that tenants stop using the boiler until the inspection hatch is installed. Landlords should also make sure that they give tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant refuses the engineer's entry the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is still refusing the engineer entry, then the landlord must look into evicting them pursuant to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. What is the consequence if you don't possess a Gas Safety Certificate? It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property is fitted with an official gas safety certificate that is valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failing to do so is an offense that could lead to landlords being punished with severe fines. The regulations also state that a landlord must provide an original copy of their gas safety report to their tenants upon request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord in order to perform an inspection of the gas supply to all gas appliances. During check it out , an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger to tenants. The engineer will issue the CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate). This is a vital document that all tenants should get a hold of and keep. It contains information about the gas appliances in the rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants identify any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to contact a Gas Safe engineer to have them checked. Landlords are required to provide their tenants, both new and existing, with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the date that the engineer visits their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy starts. Landlords who fail in providing 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 are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange for them to be tested every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing any alarm that doesn't work. This is applicable 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 illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices if they did not provide their tenants with a valid gas safety certification. The ruling was based on the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold leases to obtain a gas safety certification for their property before tenants move into it. How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues, and pipework within the properties they lease are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. In order to comply with the regulations, landlords are required to organize annual gas inspections of all gas appliances and flues that they install within the property. This is known as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection. It is also an excellent idea for landlords to consider having an annual boiler service performed in conjunction with the CP12 inspection, since this will help ensure that all gas appliances are working correctly and safely. Gas engineers can offer an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners, inspect for cracks and leaks in the flue system and clean the heat exchanger and perform general maintenance. The CP12 is often known as “landlord's gas safety certificate” but it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes 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 crucial that the landlords or letting agents permit Gas Safe registered engineers to enter the premises for safety checks and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will ensure they are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to permit access, it's the landlord or letting agent's responsibility to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary. Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer has the necessary qualifications to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to conduct the safety inspection. It is also important to keep in mind that the gas engineer is legally permitted to disconnect faulty equipment and can cut off your gas supplies in the event of a need.