monthcrow9

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate and Boiler Service As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, chimneys and flues are regularly inspected. The law also requires that you give a copy of the check to your tenants. If the engineer considers that a particular appliance or installation is imminently dangerous the engineer will request permission to disconnect 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 an official document that confirms that all gas appliances and flues within the rental property were inspected by an accredited gas engineer. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange a gas safety check annually for each rental property they own. Gas Safe registered engineers carry the inspection and verify that all pipes, appliances and flues conform with safety regulations. Landlords are also required by law to provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate (Gas Safety Record) following each annual gas safety inspection and test. The document should be handed out to tenants within 28 days of the Gas Safety Inspection and to new tenants at the beginning of their lease. CP12 is an abbreviation used for the CORGI Proforma 12 which was employed 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 or test and the results of these, any actions or issues that require to be addressed, and the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection. The engineer will give advice on the spot if the Gas Safety Check reveals any problems with the gas appliance. This will outline what needs to be addressed in order to ensure it is safe to use. If a device is deemed Immediately Dangerous, or Abnormally dangerous, the gas supply must be shut off until the issue has been resolved. It is a crime for a tenant to refuse to let the gas safety check to be conducted. A landlord can apply to the courts for an injunction if necessary, however it is generally more efficient to send a clearly written letter stating why it is essential that the checks are carried out and what they will entail. This should encourage a reluctant tenant to let access in, and in the event that they do not, the landlord might have to think about starting the eviction process. How often should I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate? In the law, landlords and letting agents are required to conduct an annual safety check of all gas appliances and chimneys that they provide to their tenants. This is to ensure that their equipment is safe for use and that there aren't gas leaks within the property. This is an essential obligation and landlords must 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 the gas inspection was completed by a qualified engineer within the past 12 months. It is issued to the landlord and should be handed over to the tenant as proof of the safety of the gas supply. It is valid for a time of 12 months and has to be renewed each year. If a landlord does not provide their tenants with an Gas Safety Certificate then they are breaking the law and could be fined by the local authority. It is therefore crucial for landlords to have their Gas Safety checks carried out at a timely basis and to keep a copy the certificate in the event that a tenant asks for it. It's also an excellent idea for landlords to set up inspection hatches on all gas appliances, to allow engineers to easily access them for inspections every year. If the appliance is found to be 'at risk' during an inspection, the engineer will formally categorise it as such and will shut off the boiler and advise that the tenant not use it until the inspection hatch has been installed. Landlords must also ensure that they give tenants a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to when they enter the property to carry out Gas Safety checks. This allows tenants time to plan their inspection and request permission, if required. If a tenant does not allow entry to the engineer, the landlord must explain the reason for this and what will happen if the tenant refused. If the tenant does not allow the engineer entry, the landlord could decide to evict the tenant under section 21 of 1988 Housing Act. What happens if you don't own a Gas Safety Certificate? In what is a gas safety certificate , it is the landlord's legal obligation to ensure their property has a valid gas safety certification prior to the time tenants move into. Failure to adhere to this law can result in a landlord being prosecuted or fined heavily. The regulations stipulate that landlords must also provide copies of the gas safety records to their tenants upon request. Gas Safe registered engineers must visit the rental property of the landlord to conduct a gas inspection on all gas appliances. During the inspection, an engineer will be able to identify any issues that could pose a risk to tenants. The engineer will issue a CP12 Gas Safety Document, which is 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 includes information about the gas appliances in a rental property, as well as details on when they were last tested and when they expire. It can help tenants spot any issues with the appliances or installation and ensure that they know how to reach an Gas Safe engineer to have them checked. Landlords must give the gas safety report to their tenants, current and new within 28 days of the date that the engineer has visited their property. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to provide an original copy of the gas safety certificate can be prosecuted under the rules and could face unlimited fines or six months imprisonment. The same way landlords must make sure that carbon monoxide detectors are in operation in their homes and have them tested every month. If an alarm is not functioning, the landlord has to fix it. The rules governing this apply to council, private and housing association landlords, and also to licensable houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). 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 an official gas safety certificate. The ruling was by reference to the law which 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 the property. How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate? Landlords are required by law to make sure that the gas appliances, flues and pipework within their properties are safe for tenants. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 regulate this. To be in compliance with the regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas inspections on all the gas appliances and flues they provide for use within the property. This is referred to as a CP12 gas safety certificate. It must be completed by a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer after each inspection. Landlords should also consider performing a boiler inspection at the same time as an CP12 inspection. This will ensure that all gas appliances are operating properly and safely. Landlords can typically receive a combination CP12 and boiler service at a reasonable price from a qualified gas engineer who can check the seals on boiler burners, inspect the flue system for leaks and cracks, clean the heat exchanger and burner and carry out general maintenance. The CP12 document is often called the 'landlord's gas safety certificate', however, it is officially referred to as the Gas Safety Record documentation. It includes the results of the safety tests, as well as details of any problems or actions that should be taken care of. Landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the CP12 document within 28 days of the Gas Safety check being completed. It is essential that landlords or letting agents only permit Gas Safe registered engineers to access the property for safety checks and maintenance. It is a good idea to educate tenants on the importance of allowing access and explain that the gas engineer will help keep them safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the tenant does not allow access the agent or landlord must explain the legal obligations in writing. They should then visit the property and force entry if required. 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 is able to complete the gas safety test efficiently and effectively. It's also worth bearing in mind that the gas engineer is legally able to cut off any defective equipment and can cut off gas lines when necessary.