landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service and Boiler Service

As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. You should also provide a copy to your tenants.

If the engineer believes that any appliance or installation is imminently dangerous they will ask permission to disconnect gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches.

What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that demonstrates that all of the gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified gas engineer. Landlords must arrange a gas check for each rental property that they own at least once per year. The inspection is performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer and checks to ensure that all pipes appliances, flues, and pipes are in good working condition and that they comply with safety standards.

The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy 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 lease.

CP12 is an abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was used by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) prior to being replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009. The form identifies the date of the last gas inspection and tests, the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the person who conducted the test.

If the Gas Safety check highlights any issues with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to make it safe for use. If an appliance is deemed to be immediately dangerous or Abnormally Lethal the gas supply will have to be shut off until the issue has been resolved.

It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to allow the gas safety test to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction in the event of need, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a well worded letter explaining the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This should convince a tenant who is reluctant to give access, and in the event that they do otherwise, the landlord could be required to begin the eviction process.

How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords and letting agencies are legally required to conduct an annual gas safety check on all flues and gas appliances that they supply to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe to use and that there aren't any gas leaks in the property. This is an essential responsibility for landlords and they should ensure that they get their gas inspections done by a qualified gas engineer.

The Gas Safety Certificate (formerly the Gas Safety Check Record) is an official document that proves that a gas inspection has been performed by a licensed engineer within the past 12 months. It is given to the landlord, and should be provided to the tenant to prove the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months, and must be renewed each year.

A landlord who does not 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 in a timely manner and to keep a copy of the documentation in case a tenant requests it.

It's also a good idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances so that engineers can 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 has been installed.

Landlords should also make sure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to perform Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants to prepare and ask permission if they need. If a tenant does not permit the engineer to enter the landlord must send a letter to them explaining why it is necessary and what happens if they don't follow through. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act.


What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate?

It is the legal obligation of a landlord to ensure that their property is equipped with a gas safety certificate valid prior to the time tenants move in. Failure to do this is an offence that can cause landlords to be charged and liable to heavy fines. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also furnish copies of the gas safety certificates to their tenants upon request.

Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform an inspection of all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a danger 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 document that every tenant should keep. It contains information about the gas installations in a rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with their appliances or installations and ensure that they are aware of how to contact an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested.

Landlords are required to provide their current and new tenants with a gas safety inspection report within 28 days of the engineer visiting their property. They must also give a copy of the CP12 to the tenant on the day their tenancy begins. Landlords who do not provide a copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or a six-month imprisonment.

The same way, landlords should ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are working in their properties and arrange for them being checked every month. The landlord is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not work. The rules governing 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 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 ruling was based on a law that requires landlords with assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to when tenants move into it.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

Landlords are required by law to ensure that gas appliances, flues and pipework in their properties are safe for tenants. This is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In order to comply with these regulations, landlords must conduct annual gas inspections on all gas appliances and flues they provide for use in the 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.

Landlords should also think about performing a boiler inspection in conjunction with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Gas engineers can offer the combination CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable cost. They will inspect the seals of boiler burners and look for leaks and cracks within the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and carry out general maintenance.

The CP12 is often referred to by the term "landlord's gas safety certificate", although it is actually called the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It lists the results of all the safety checks and details of any actions or issues that need to be resolved. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed.

It's important that the landlords or letting agents 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 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 allow access it is the landlord's or letting agent's duty to clarify the legal obligations in writing, and follow up with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary.

Tenants must always request to have a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer before letting them in to prove that they're competent to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety test efficiently and efficiently. Be aware that a gas technician can legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.