Why Landlords Need a Gas Safety Certificate CP12
Anyone renting out a part of their property must obtain a CP12 gas safety certificate. This guarantees that all appliances are safe and in compliance with the law.
Landlords must also keep the records of all inspections. This is useful should they ever decide to sell their property.
Legal Requirements
Gas Safe registered engineers must inspect and issue an cp12 gas safety certificate to anyone who leases a property with gas piping at least once a year. Landlords need to present the certificates at the start of a new tenancy to tenants and keep copies as long as the property remains owned by them.
Landlords who do not follow the law put their tenants at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and could be subject to legal actions. They also risk losing their landlord insurance cover.
Engineers require access to the property in order to carry out the inspection and issue the gas safety certificate. They must also know the model and make of each appliance, and have access to the manufacturer specifications. The engineers must also be able of confirming that each appliance is functioning correctly and that all pipes and fittings are in good working order and safely secured.
Any issues that are discovered during the inspection will be noted on the CP12 and remedies suggested. If the issues are not fixed, a second inspection is required, and a new certification will be issued when the issue is fixed. The date when the next inspection is due to be included on the CP12 and should be scheduled promptly to avoid any issues.
Only Gas Safe registered engineers can conduct an assessment and issue gas safety certificates. Landlords can search online for a Gas Safe engineer in their area. Landlords should pick an engineer who offers affordable prices and a reliable service to make sure their tenants are safe from potentially dangerous gas-related issues.
What is a CP12?
A CP12 document is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer following a thorough inspection of gas appliances, fittings and flues in a property. This certificate is a vital part of the landlord's duties under UK law. It helps to ensure that tenants are living in a healthy and safe environment. Landlords who do not adhere to the law can be punished severely, including penalties like fines and imprisonment.
The CP12 is a complete document that includes all the property's gas appliances, along with specific details for every inspection and any issues discovered. The document also includes the name of a Gas Safe registered engineer, their Gas Safe registration numbers, and the date that the inspection was conducted. Landlords must provide the CP12 copy to all tenants CP12 to each tenant within 28 days after their annual inspection, or prior Mkgassafety.co.uk to the tenant moving into the property.
It is important to choose an Gas Safe registered professional to conduct a CP12 examination. The person you choose should have the expertise and experience to conduct a thorough test. Examining the Gas Safe ID card of an engineer is the best method of confirming their credentials. The card will include their registration number as well as the types of work they are competent to perform. It is also an excellent idea to look up reviews and recommendations from other landlords.
Landlords who fail to maintain a valid CP12 are at risk of serious legal penalties, including penalties like fines or even imprisonment. Additionally, the absence of a CP12 could lead to the invalidation of landlords' insurance policies and leave them financially vulnerable in the event of a gas-related incident. To avoid these risks the best way to protect yourself is to schedule annual inspections by a Gas Safe engineer to ensure that all your properties have CP12s.
How can I get one?
A CP12 is a document that certifies that the gas appliances within the property were tested for safety. Landlords are required to maintain and have one for each property they lease to tenants. A CP12 contains the specifics of the inspection, including whether or not each appliance was inspected, as well as any work required to bring them back up-to-date. This lets tenants know what they can expect when renting a property and it helps prevent unexpected expenses for the landlord in the event that an issue arises.
A landlord must give an original copy of the CP12 to a new tenant within 28 days after the inspection. They must also keep records for their own reference. Landlords are also required to renew their CP12 prior to the date it expires, or they could be liable to being fined or even a criminal prosecution.
Getting a CP12 isn't just a legal requirement but it's also important to ensure the health and wellbeing of your tenants. A CP12 certificate will reveal any potential issues regarding the gas supply and appliances in your rental property and can be rectified before they become bigger problems.
You can find a registered engineer on the internet if you're looking for an CP12. You can recognise them by the Gas Safe logo that they wear on their uniform or on their service vans. It is also advisable to check with CORGI the governing body (now Gas Safe), to ensure that your engineer has been registered to carry out CP12 inspections.
Another option is to use an efficient landlord software program such as Klipboard which allows engineers to complete their CP12 Gas Safety Certificates quickly and easily in the field without needing to keep track of bulky pads of paper. They can also set reminders for service for their clients, and automatically send them a notification when their next check is due to be carried out.
How long do they last? for?
The certificate given to landlords who have successfully completed a CP12 is valid for a period of 12 months after the date of the inspection. This is why it is important for landlords to schedule regular CP12 checks and to ensure that their certificate doesn't run out. If it does not, the landlord could be punished for breaking the law.
There are many reasons landlords don't renew their CP12. One of the most frequent is that they forget. This is not an excuse. The most effective way to handle this is to gently remind them that their gas safety inspection is due and make it a point to schedule it right away.
It is also important to remember that there is no grace period when it comes to a CP12 and any landlord who fails to have their certificate renewed after the expiry date will be in breach of the law. If the issue isn't addressed immediately, they could be unable to rent their home and even lose their gas supply.
All engineers who have been authorized to conduct CP12 inspections and issue gas safety certificates are registered with the Gas Safe Register which operates on behalf of the UK Health and Safety Executive. The logo of this official organization on the uniforms and vans of their firms. Gas Safe registration numbers are also required when you book an inspection. This number is unique to them and can be used to find their details on the Gas Safe Register if you are unsure about their status.
Where can I buy one?
A CP12 is only issued by an engineer who is registered on the Gas Safe Register. This ensures the engineer is qualified to conduct an extensive inspection. The engineer will inform the landlord if the appliance fails the test and will recommend that any repairs required be completed prior to issuing the new certificate. The landlord is required to provide a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate to tenants within 28 days of the time that the inspection took place.
Invalid CP12 poses significant risk to the health and safety of tenants as well as putting the landlord in breach of the law. Not only do faulty appliances produce carbon monoxide that is colorless and odourless but they also can cause explosions and fires. Additionally, blocked flues can prevent harmful gases from safely being ejected from the property, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Regular CP12 Gas Safety inspections can help to reduce these risks since any problems can be dealt with promptly. In accordance with the directions or manuals of the manufacturer landlords are also accountable to perform annual maintenance on gas appliances and pipes within their rental properties. The landlords must also keep a record of the maintenance work carried out.
With the aid of free software for landlords like BOXT it is simpler to keep track of these important tasks. If this is done by setting a reminder to issue an CP12 or uploading the document to the online Property Manager, landlords can ensure that their tenants receive an accurate and up-to date CP12 within the timeframe required. This helps avoid the hassles and fines caused by not complying with the law.