10 Misleading Answers To Common Gas Safety Certificate And Boiler Service Questions Do You Know Which Ones?
Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, flues, and chimneys undergo annual checks. It is also your responsibility to give a copy of the report to your tenants. If the engineer believes that a particular appliance or installation is immediate danger they will ask permission to shut off gas from the system and recommend the installation of inspection hatches. What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document which demonstrates that the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been checked by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check every year for each rental property they own. The inspection is conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer and makes sure that all of the pipework and appliances as well as flues are in good working order and that they comply with the safety regulations. Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with an original copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The certificate should be provided to tenants within 28 days following the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the start of their lease. CP12 is the abbreviation for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was employed by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form outlines the date of the most recent gas inspections and tests, the results, any steps that must be taken, and the name and title of the engineer that conducted the test. The engineer will offer advice if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will include what needs to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply needs to be turned off until the issue is fixed. If a tenant does not permit access to the gas safety checks to be completed it is an offence that is criminal. A landlord may apply to the courts for an injunction order should it be necessary, but it is generally more efficient to simply send a strongly written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they'll involve. This should encourage the tenant who is hesitant to let access to the property. If not, the landlord will need to start the eviction procedure. How often do I need to renew my Gas Safety Certificate? By law, landlords and agents for letting are required to conduct an annual safety check of all chimneys and gas appliances they offer to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks in the property. Gas inspections are a vital obligation for landlords and they must ensure they are conducted by a certified 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 to the landlord and should be given to the tenant to prove the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed each year. A landlord who fails to provide an Gas Safety Certificate for their tenants could be penalized. It is therefore essential for landlords to ensure that their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the documentation in the event that a tenant asks for it. Installing inspection hatches on all gas appliances is a good idea, because it lets engineers quickly access the appliances for their annual inspections. If the appliance is deemed to be in danger during an inspection the engineer will categorise it as such and may disconnect the boiler and advise that tenants not to use it until the inspection hatch has been installed. The landlords should also ensure that they provide their tenants with at least 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to conduct Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant is refusing entry to the engineer the landlord has to explain the reason why it is necessary and what would happen should the tenant refuse. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of 1988 Housing Act. What is the consequence if I don't have a Gas Safety Certificate? It is the legal obligation of landlords to ensure that their property has a gas safety certificate valid before tenants move in. Failure to adhere to the law can lead to a landlord being prosecuted or fined severely. The regulations state that landlords must also provide copies of gas safety records to their tenants upon request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to conduct an inspection of 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 certificate which is also known as the Landlord Gas Safety Record or a Gas Safety Certificate. This is a very important document that every tenant must keep. It contains information about the gas installations in the rental property and also details on when they were last tested and their expiry dates. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and make sure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them tested. Landlords must provide the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give an original copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenure. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate may be prosecuted in accordance with the regulations and may be subject to unlimited fines or six months imprisonment. Similarly, landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. They can also arrange that they be tested every month. how long does gas safety certificate last is accountable for repairing the problem if the alarm does not 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 ruled that it was unlawful for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with an official gas Safety Certificate. The ruling was by reference to the law which states that landlords of assured shorthold tenancies must obtain a record of their gas safety for their property prior to the time tenants move in. How can I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that gas appliances, flues and pipework in the properties they lease are safe. 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 they provide for use in the property. This is known as a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. Landlords should also consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can usually receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a professional gas engineer. They can check the seals on boiler burners. They will also inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the burner and heat exchanger and perform general maintenance. The CP12 document is often known as the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', but it is actually the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as specifics of any issues or actions that must be taken care of. Landlords are required to give tenants a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed. It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and for maintenance. It is a good idea to inform tenants about the necessity of allowing access, and explain that the gas engineer is there to protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to let access in, it's the landlord or letting agent's duty to explain the legal responsibilities in writing, and follow with a visit to the property to force entry if necessary. Tenants should always ask to be shown a Gas Safe ID card from the engineer prior to entering the premises to prove that they're qualified to work on the gas systems in your home and can be trusted to complete the gas safety inspection efficiently and effectively. Be aware that a gas engineer is able to legally disconnect defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.