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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. The law also requires you provide a copy the check to your tenants. If the engineer deems any device or installation to be immediately hazardous, they will ask permission to shut off the gas supply and suggest that inspection hatches are installed. What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certificate for landlords is a document that proves that all the gas appliances in the rental property and flues have been inspected by a certified gas engineer. Landlords are legally required to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and ensure that all pipework, appliances and flues are in compliance with safety regulations. The law also requires landlords to provide tenants with 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 tenancy. CP12 is the abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 that was used by CORGI before it was replaced in 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The form lists the date of the last gas inspection and tests as well as the results, any actions or issues that need to be addressed, and the name of the person who performed the inspection. If the Gas Safety check highlights any problems with a gas appliance, the engineer will advise on what should be done to ensure it is safe for use. If a device is deemed immediately dangerous or abnormally lethal the gas supply should be disconnected until the problem is resolved. It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be carried out. A landlord can ask the courts for an injunction order if necessary, however it is usually much easier to send a clearly written letter stating the reason why the checks are made and what they will involve. This will encourage the tenant who is hesitant to let 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? In the law, landlords and let agents are required by law to conduct an annual safety check of the chimneys and gas appliances that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and to ensure that there aren't gas leaks within the property. Gas inspections are an essential responsibility for landlords, and they must ensure that 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 by the landlord and must be presented to the tenant to verify the security of the gas supply. It is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed each year. If a landlord does not provide their tenants with a Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be penalized by the local authority. It is therefore vital for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy of the certificate in case a tenant requests it. It's also an excellent idea for landlords to install inspection hatches on all gas appliances, so that engineers can easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be at risk during an inspection the engineer will classify it as such and may disconnect the boiler and recommend that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed. The landlords should also ensure that they give their tenants at least 24 hours notice prior to the time they visit the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This gives tenants time to prepare for the visit and provide permission, if required. If a tenant refuses access to the engineer the landlord must explain the reason for this and what happens in the event that the tenant refuses. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the engineer entry, the landlord can think about evicting the tenant in accordance with section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. What happens if I don't get a Gas Safety Certificate? In essence it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their property is equipped with a valid gas safety certificate before tenants move in. In the absence of this, it's an offense that could cause landlords to be prosecuted and subject to severe fines. The regulations also stipulate that landlords must provide an electronic copy of the gas safety report to their tenants upon request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental home of the landlord to perform a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer will identify any issues that could be a threat 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 very important document that every tenant must keep. This document provides information on gas installations in a rental home as well as the date they were tested and expiration dates. It will help tenants recognize issues with their appliances or installations and make sure they know how to contact an Gas Safe Engineer to have them checked. Landlords are required to provide the gas safety report to their tenants, both current and new within 28 days after the engineer has visited their property. The landlord is also required to provide a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the lease. Landlords that fail to provide the copy of the gas certificate may be charged and face unlimited fines or six months in prison. The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors work in their properties and make arrangements for them to be checked every month. If the alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to make the necessary repairs. homeowner gas safety certificate applies to councils, private landlords, and housing associations, as well as licensable houses of Multiple Occupation. In June 2017 the High Court ruled that it was illegal for landlords to serve Section 21 notices without providing their tenants with a valid Gas Safety Certificate. The decision was based upon the law that requires landlords who have assured shorthold tenancies to obtain an official gas safety certificate for their property prior to the time tenants move into it. 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 rent out are safe. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 cover this. To comply with these regulations, landlords must organize annual gas inspections of all the gas appliances and flues they supply for use within the property. This is called a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate and must be signed by a licensed Gas Safe Registered Engineer after each inspection. Landlords should consider conducting a boiler inspection simultaneously with the CP12 inspection. This will ensure that the gas appliances are functioning properly and safely. Gas engineers can provide an integrated CP12 inspection and boiler service at a reasonable price. They will examine the seals of boiler burners and look for cracks and leaks in the flue system, clean the heat exchanger, and perform general maintenance. The CP12 is often referred to by the term “landlord's gas safety certificate”, although it actually is known as the Gas Safety Record Documentation. It includes the results of the safety checks, as well as details of any problems or actions that must be addressed. Landlords must provide their tenants a CP12 document no later than 28 days after the Gas Safety Check is completed. It is essential that landlords and letting agents allow Gas Safe registered engineers access to the property to conduct safety inspections and maintenance. It's a good idea inform tenants of the necessity of allowing access, and explaining that the gas engineer will protect them from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant is reluctant to permit access it is the landlord's or letting agent's responsibility clarify the legal obligations in writing and then follow by visiting the property to compel entry if needed. Gas Safe ID cards should be requested by tenants before they are allowed to enter the property. This will ensure that the engineer is competent to work on your home's systems and can therefore be trusted to perform the safety inspection. Be aware that a gas technician can legally remove defective equipment or shut off the gas supply in case of need.