Landlord Boiler Responsibilities: Servicing, Safety Checks and Record Keeping

Boiler safety isn’t optional for a UK landlord with gas appliances in a rental property. Your duties include carrying out an annual safety check, employing a competent engineer and maintaining accurate records. So here is a handy run-through of the essential things you have to have:

1. Have a yearly gas safety check done

Landlords are legally obliged to have a Gas Safety Check performed annually on ANY gas appliances or flues supplied at the property (to include your boiler). A Gas Safety record also sometimes referred to as a CP12 is issued by the engineer.

Not to be confused with a service call. A safety check is a process by which the appliance may be considered safe for use following tests and recorded measurements. A certificate is issued after the inspection which is the landlord and tenant’s guarantee that the boiler is safe and working as it should be. For Boiler Servicing Cheltenham, visit https://www.blu-fish.co.uk/gas-heating-services-cheltenham/boiler-servicing-cheltenham/

2) Engage a Gas Safe registered engineer

All repairs to gas appliances should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer with the relevant qualifications for your appliance.

Top tip – Ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card and look at the categories on the back (or check online) before they arrive.

3) Gas Safety Record

A copy must be given to the tenants within a period of 28 days.

Document how and when you delivered it (email is great for this).

4) Look after the boiler and fix breakdowns

Heating and hot water – It is the job of the landlord to ensure that these are in working order. That means:

Timely booking of repairs when a tenant reports anything as broken.

Acting on warning signs (pressure drops, strange smells and recurring lockouts).

Treating loss of heating/hot water as a priority (especially during winter months)

5) Stay organised with your records (Don’t just rely on memory)

At minimum, keep:

Gas Safety Records (current & former)

Invoices and service reports

Tenant report notes and compared associated response dates.

Original manufacturer warranty papers (some of which insist on yearly servicing)

Remember that you will always be held responsible even as an agent  so keep the documents where you can access them.

Common mistakes landlords make

Thinking that a “service” takes care of your annual safety check

Allowing the 12-month limit to go by when changing tenants

Employing a non-Gas Safe contractor to carry out gas work

Not documenting that a certificate was issued to the tenant.