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 should also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediately dangerous they will ask permission to shut off the supply of gas and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that proves that all gas appliances and flues within the property that is rented were inspected by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord must arrange for the gas check for each rental property they own at least once a year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they comply with the safety regulations.

The law also requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate, (Gas Safety Record), following every annual inspection and test for gas safety. This should be provided to tenants in the 28 days of the Gas Safety inspection and given to any new tenants at the start of their tenure.

CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form shows the date of the last gas inspection and test and the results of these, any issues or actions that need to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the check.

The engineer will give advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any issues 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 immediate danger or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will need to be shut off until the issue is fixed.

If a tenant refuses to allow access for gas security checks to be conducted the tenant is guilty of a criminal offence. If needed, a landlord can ask the courts for an order to enjoin the tenant from preventing the gas safety checks. However, it's more common to send a letter that clarifies why the checks are vital and what is involved. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to allow access and, if otherwise, the landlord could have to think about starting the eviction process.

How often should I receive a Gas Safety Certificate?

The law requires that landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is a vitally important obligation and landlords must be sure to are inspected for gas by a qualified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate, formerly known as the Gas Safety Check Record, is a legal document which confirms that an engineer has completed a gas inspection within the last 12 months. It is issued by the landlord, and should be provided 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 penalized by the local authority. Gas Safety checks must be carried out by landlords on time. They should also keep a copy in the event that tenants request it.

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

Landlords must also ensure that they provide their tenants with a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they are allowed to enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare and request permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing access to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens if the tenant refused. If the tenant refuses to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could consider evicting the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.


What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to make sure that their property has an approved gas safety certificate before tenants move into. Failing to do so is an offence that can cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an original copy of their gas safety record to their tenants upon request.

Landlords must have a Gas Safe registered engineer visit their rental property to perform a gas check on all gas appliances. During Full Statement , the engineer will note any issues that may cause a threat to tenants. The engineer will issue an CP12 Gas Safety Document, also referred to as a Landlord Gas Safety Record (or a Gas Safety Certificate).

This is a crucial document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations in the rental property as well as information about when they were last tested and their expiry 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 checked.

Landlords are required to provide their new and current tenants with a gas safety report within 28 days of the engineer's visit to their property. The landlord must also give the copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who do not provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate could be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and arrange for them being tested every month. If the alarm isn't working, the landlord must make the necessary repairs. The rules for this are applicable to council, private and housing association landlords as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

In June 2017 In June 2017, the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to issue Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official Gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was in accordance with the law that states that landlords with assured shorthold leases must have a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move into.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with this. To be in landlord gas safety certificate price with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas checks of all gas appliances and flues they supply to tenants. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be completed by a certified Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection.

Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection at the same time as the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are working properly and safely. Landlords are usually able to obtain a combined CP12 and boiler service at an affordable cost from a qualified gas engineer, who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for cracks and leaks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and conduct general maintenance.

The CP12 is sometimes called "landlord's gas safety certificate" however it actually is called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and the details of any actions or problems that require attention. Landlords are required to provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed.

It is crucial that landlords and letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property for safety inspections and maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access it's the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility explain the legal responsibilities in writing and then follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if needed.

Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants prior to they are allowed to enter the property. This will prove that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety check. It is also important to know that a gas engineer can legally remove defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.