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It is illegal for a landlord to rent out their property without a gas safety certificate.
A landlord’s gas safety certificate is a legal requirement and a crucial piece of documentation which proves your gas appliances were checked by a qualified gas safety engineer within the last twelve months. It’s a vital part of your legal duties to ensure you provide your tenants with a safe environment to live in.
Here’s what it involves, why you need one, and how to find a qualified engineer.
About the gas safety certificate
As a landlord, you have a host of legal obligations to your tenant, but providing a gas safety certificate is arguably the most important. It is your documented proof that flues, appliances and all relevant fittings have been checked by a gas safety qualified engineer within the last 12 months.
It is also widely known as the CORGI Proforma or CP12 and dates back to the days when CORGI was responsible for ensuring the safety of all gas appliances in a property. Since 2009, the responsibility belongs to the Gas Safety Register, which contains the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas appliances in the UK. These are the only people qualified to carry out their checks and you can find a list of qualified engineers in your area on their website.
It makes good sense as a Landlord to take out an annual gas service contract as this ensures your gas appliances are in tip top condition and likely to last longer. Getting the annual gas safety check renewed can be easily completed as part of this annual service.
Having a service contract in place also gives your tenants peace of mind as it shows you are taking your Landlords’ responsibilities seriously and can quickly get boiler and other gas appliance equipment fixed easily should an issue arise.
This will also give your tenants a separate point of contact with the company you take out the service contract with should a gas emergency occur.
How long does a gas safety certificate last?
Each CP12 certificate lasts for 12 months and should be given to your tenants within 28 days after the previous certificate expired. You should also provide one for any new tenants before they move in or within 28 days of them moving in.
How long must the landlord keep the gas safety certificate once it has expired?
You should keep hold of all your old ones for at least two years, so you can demonstrate a history of compliance if you need to.
What if the landlord doesn’t have a gas safety certificate?
If landlords do not fulfil their gas safety obligations, they may be liable to a fine and you may have further protections as a tenant if they try to evict you.
What if the tenants owns their own gas appliances?
If tenants have brought their own appliances with them, they are their responsibility. Landlords are only required to look after the flues and fittings. Even so, in the spirit that it’s better to be safe than sorry, it’s probably worth including them in a check.
What should an inspection include?
Each annual gas safety inspection will check any equipment or appliance that uses gas. This includes gas supply, gas boiler, and any gas fires
The inspection should also include the following:
- Check appliances for tightness and safety regulations
- Ensure there is sufficient provision for ventilation
- Check burner and gas pressures against the manufacturer’s data plates
- Check the flue flow to ensure the removal of combustible products
- Monitor standing and working gas pressure
- Safety devices must be checked to ensure they work safely and you should also check for any misuse of gas devices or items
How much does a landlord’s gas safety certificate cost?
The Gas Safety Regulator does not oversee the price of a gas safety inspection. As a result, costs can vary considerably depending on who you’re going with. It’s a good idea, therefore, to shop around. Don’t go with the first name appearing in your search – try to draw up a shortlist of about three.
It’s also worth ensuring you go with the best people possible. Gas Safety Engineers are registered professionals so the chances are that you’ll be working with someone reputable, but even so, some will be better than others. You might go by word of mouth recommendations or try looking at reviews.
Carbon monoxide alarms
You are also required by law to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used for accommodation in which solid fuel is used. So, if there is a fireplace or a wood burning stove, it’s important to have one in the same room. The only exemption is if the open fire is purely decorative and is unusable, in which case you will probably not need a Carbon Monoxide alarm.
The landlord’s gas safety certificate shouldn’t take too much time or money to arrange, but it is an important box to tick. You can always check the Government’s renting website for more information about your obligations – or have a look around our blog for the latest guidance.