Landlord Gas Safety Certificates
Gas Safety Certificates for Landlords: What You Need to Know
If you rent out a property with gas appliances, keeping your tenants safe is one of your most important responsibilities. As a landlord, you must ensure that the gas appliances and flues you provide are properly maintained and checked regularly.
A landlord gas safety certificate is an essential part of meeting these responsibilities. In this blog, we explain what a gas safety certificate is, when you need one and how regular gas safety checks can help protect your tenants and rental property.
What Is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate, also known as a Gas Safety Record or CP12, is a document issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer following a gas safety check.
It records the results of the inspection, including details of the appliances and flues checked, any safety issues identified and any remedial work carried out.
The certificate provides a record of the condition of your property’s gas appliances at the time of the check. It is an important document for landlords, helping demonstrate that the required safety checks have been completed.
Are Gas Safety Certificates a Legal Requirement for Landlords?
Yes. If you rent out a property with gas appliances or flues that you provide for your tenants, you must arrange an annual gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer.
This applies to private landlords, housing associations and other providers of rented accommodation covered by the relevant regulations.
As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring that gas appliances, pipework and flues you provide are safely maintained. You cannot simply transfer these legal responsibilities to your tenants.
Failing to meet your gas safety obligations can put tenants at risk and may lead to legal consequences.
How Often Do Landlords Need a Gas Safety Check?
Landlords must arrange a gas safety check every 12 months. The inspection should cover the relevant gas appliances and flues provided for tenants to use.
You can arrange the check up to two months before the existing deadline without changing the original renewal date, provided the relevant requirements are met. This can help you organise inspections in advance and avoid missing the annual deadline.
Once the check has been completed, you must:
– Provide existing tenants with a copy of the Gas Safety Record within 28 days.
– Give new tenants a copy before they move into the property.
– Keep the record for at least two years.
Keeping track of inspection dates and storing certificates securely can help you stay organised, particularly if you manage several rental properties.
What Does a Landlord Gas Safety Check Involve?
During a gas safety inspection, a Gas Safe registered engineer checks the relevant gas appliances and flues to assess their safety.
Depending on the installation, the inspection may include checks on:
– Gas boilers: Assessing the appliance’s safety and operation.
– Gas cookers and hobs: Checking the safety of landlord-provided gas cooking appliances.
– Flues and ventilation: Checking that combustion products can be safely removed and that ventilation requirements are met.
– Gas pipework and connections: Checking for relevant safety issues.
– Safety controls: Assessing the operation of relevant safety devices.
The engineer records the findings and identifies any safety-related defects that need attention.
If a fault is found, the landlord must arrange the necessary remedial work. If an appliance is considered unsafe, it must not be used until the issue has been appropriately addressed.
Is a Gas Safety Certificate the Same as a Boiler Service?
No. Although both are important, a gas safety check and a boiler service have different purposes.
A gas safety check focuses on the safety of the relevant gas appliances and flues, helping landlords meet their legal obligations.
A boiler service involves more comprehensive maintenance to help keep the boiler operating efficiently and reliably. It may include cleaning components, inspecting parts for wear and identifying potential faults.
An annual boiler service does not automatically satisfy the legal requirement for a gas safety check. Equally, a gas safety check should not be treated as a substitute for regular boiler maintenance.
Arranging both can help you look after your rental property’s heating system while meeting your gas safety responsibilities.
What Happens If a Landlord Doesn’t Have a Valid Gas Safety Certificate?
Failing to arrange the required gas safety checks can have serious consequences. Gas appliances that are not properly maintained may pose risks, including gas leaks and carbon monoxide exposure.
Landlords who do not meet their legal obligations may face enforcement action and other legal consequences.
Keeping an up-to-date Gas Safety Record helps you demonstrate that the required inspection has taken place. It is also important to act on any defects identified by the engineer rather than treating the certificate as the end of the process.
If you manage multiple properties, consider keeping a record of each property’s inspection date and setting reminders well before the next check is due.
Book Your Landlord Gas Safety Check with AGS!
Keeping your rental property safe doesn’t need to be complicated. Arranging regular gas safety checks with a qualified, Gas Safe registered engineer helps you meet your responsibilities as a landlord and gives you a clear record of your property’s gas safety.
At AGS, we can help with your gas safety requirements, giving you greater confidence that your property’s gas appliances are being checked appropriately.
Need a landlord gas safety certificate? Get in touch with AGS to arrange your gas safety check and keep your rental property up to date.
