What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate CP12?
Landlords are required to get their gas pipework and appliances examined by certified engineers to ensure they are safe. The checks are also known as CP12 certificates and must be carried out every year.
A CP12 is CORGI Proforma 12 - it was the official UK gas inspection document until April 2009. Landlords are required to keep copies of their CP12 certificate for a period of two years, in order to be inspected.
What is what is CP12?
A landlord gas safety certificate cp12 comes from a Gas Safe registered engineer that certifies that the gas appliances and installations have been thoroughly inspected and passed. It is required in the UK for landlords to provide this certificate. This is to ensure the safety and health of their tenants. Landlords are responsible for scheduling and keeping up to date with CP12 gas inspections, ensuring that their gas systems in good order and providing CP12 documents to their tenants within 28 days of each inspection.
The CP12 is the abbreviation for CORGI Proforma 12 which was the official title of the document from 1991 and April 2009. Gas Safe Register replaced the Council for Registered Gas Installers in April 2009. In the process, the CP12 became commonly known as the Landlord Gas Safety Certificate.
A CP12 will also include the name of the engineer who carried out the inspection, as well as any immediate safety measures that are required. The location of every gas appliance is recorded along with any tests performed on flues and ventilation.
It is important that landlords have a CP12, because tenants can file complaints against landlords in accordance with section 21 of the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act. This could result in fines or even eviction in some cases.
Faulty gas appliances can produce carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas that can be fatal if inhaled. The blockage of flues can prevent harmful gases from leaving the building safely, resulting in an additional fire risk. The CP12 is also an opportunity for landlords to inform tenants of any potential risks in the property.
While it is legally required to keep a CP12 in place but the process can be a challenge for many landlords. Fortunately, there are services that can help make the process simpler. For example, Klipboard allows landlords to schedule their annual gas inspections ahead of time and receive reminders when it's time to renew. These services will save time and money for landlords, while making sure they're current on their CP12s.
Who is responsible for the checkups?
As a landlord you are responsible for providing a secure environment for your tenants. This includes ensuring that all gas appliances are up to standards. This is why it's so important to have CP12 inspections done each year and to give the copies of these certificates to your tenants as soon as they move in. A landlord who fails to provide an authentic CP12 can be fined, or even sent to jail.
A CP12 is a document created by a specialist engineer who will inspect the gas pipes, appliances, and flues in your home. The CP12 includes the contact details of the engineer along with a description and location of each appliance. The CP12 also has an expiry date. Once it has expired you must schedule another appointment with a reliable gas safe engineer to have it renewed.
It's also worth noting that the CP12 is only produced by engineers who are registered with the Gas Safe Register. The document is part of the building safety laws which are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.
Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a CP12 inspection of their properties as soon as they rent them out. They are also required to keep records of this and provide their current or new tenants with a copy the certificate. In the event of a breach, it could lead to penalties or even jail time for the landlord.
The responsibilities of landlords vary depending on the way in which the property is used, but there are some general rules that everyone has to abide by. These include ensuring that the gas system and all appliances are safe for tenants to use, maintaining repairs and maintenance and supplying all necessary documentation when selling or moving out of a property.
If you believe that your landlord hasn't been able to meet their legal obligations regarding safety in the building, it's important to bring this issue to them. It's possible they forgot to book an appointment with a CP12 appointment, and by bringing up the issue you will give them a chance to make it happen before they face any penalties. If they fail to adhere to the law and regulations, you may be able to report them to HSE as an act of harm to public health.
What is included in the examination?
The CP12 is an important tool to protect your tenants from the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. It's legally required for landlords in the UK therefore make sure you display it prominently and present a copy to your tenants. This will show that you are committed to your tenants' safety and are taking proactive measures to maintain property standards.
A CP12 report provides information on the gas appliances and pipework installed in your rental property. It should be completed by a licensed and qualified Gas Safe engineer. It should include:
Description and the location of gas appliances. The appliances that have passed or failed the inspection. Name, registration number and signature of the engineer. The date of the checkup.
The engineer must inform you if any equipment is unsafe to use and then provide the necessary remedial measures. You must make arrangements that the equipment be repaired prior to a CP12 can issued.
The CP12 will not just check the appliances in themselves but also the flues and exhausts in your home. This will make sure that they operate at the correct pressure and are free of leaks. The test will also confirm that the appliances are burning gas in a correct manner.
In addition to a written report of the inspection In addition, your CP12 will also include the dates when future checks are due. It is recommended to plan your next inspection to take place 12 months after the last one. This will ensure that you always have a current CP12 and avoid any delays in distributing new certificates to your tenants.
A CP12 must be kept by a landlord in a file for a minimum of two years. You must give a copy of the CP12 to your tenant at the moment of their move-in. you must issue an updated CP12 following each inspection within 28 days.
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations require you to ensure that all of your properties rented to tenants are tested annually for gas appliances. If your tenant is unwilling to let you into their property for these safety inspections, you will need to write to them and explain that this is legally required. You can be asking them to allow access. If they refuse, you will only be able to disconnect their gas after taking all "reasonable steps" to gain access.
How do I get a CP12?
Finding a Gas Safe certified engineer to conduct a safety inspection on your home is the easiest method to obtain a CP12 in the UK. You can find many companies in your area that provide CP12 inspections. A quick Google search can help you locate one. Once you've identified an engineer, you can arrange an appointment with them to visit and conduct the test.
Landlords must have a CP12 certification before renting their homes. This is to ensure that all gas appliances including flues, fittings and fittings are working safely and properly. Gas safety regulations can result in severe fines or even jail time when they are not adhered to. A valid CP12 certificate gives landlords the peace mind they need to ensure their tenants are safe and that they are in compliance with legal requirements.
The CP12 will provide information on whether or not the appliance has passed or failed the safety test. The CP12 will also contain any recommendations or repairs that are required to make an appliance safe. Landlords must act within 28 days. They must also give their tenants the copy of CP12 within 28 days after the inspection.
The Health and Safety Executive may fine a landlord if they do not have a CP12 on file. They also lose the right to expel tenants under Section 21 of 1988 Housing Act. This makes it more difficult for landlords who are worried about the safety of renting their properties.
While a CP12 is an obligation for landlords, some are hesitant to carry out an annual check. They usually make reasons like forgetting, being busy, or having to travel away on holiday. Carbon monoxide poisoning is an extremely serious threat to the health of tenants.
Landlords can prevent this by reminding their tenants about the upcoming inspection. One such way is to utilize tools for managing landlords like Klipboard that allows users to schedule reminders for service appointments, such as CP12 renewals. These reminders are sent out via email, SMS or mobile apps and can aid tenants in staying on the top of their maintenance obligations.