Gas Safety Certificates in Borstal

Gas Safety Obligations for Borstal Landlords

The law requires every landlord renting a property with gas appliances to have those appliances inspected annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The gas safety record — the CP12 certificate — must be provided to tenants and kept on file.

Your obligations include:

• Annual gas safety inspection of every gas appliance you own or provide in the property
• CP12 certificate given to existing tenants within 28 days and to new tenants before move-in
• Record retention for at least two years
• Reasonable access — you must make documented attempts to arrange the inspection
• Legal consequences for non-compliance, including unlimited fines and potential imprisonment

Our inspection covers:

• Operational testing of all gas appliances — boilers, gas fires, cookers, and water heaters
• Flue integrity testing to confirm safe combustion gas discharge
• Ventilation checks for rooms with gas appliances
• Visual inspection of gas pipework for leaks, corrosion, and damage
• Safety control testing — flame failure devices, thermocouples, and gas valves
• CP12 issued on the day

Gas Safety in Borstal's Housing Stock

Borstal's housing dates predominantly from the 1920s through to the 1960s, and the gas installations in these properties reflect the standards of the era when they were fitted rather than when the houses were built.

The inter-war semi-detached houses along Borstal Road and the surrounding streets were originally built with coal fires. Central heating and gas appliances were retrofitted during the 1970s and 1980s, and in some cases the original gas installations have never been fully updated. These properties sometimes have gas fires in living rooms that date from the original conversion, alongside a more modern replacement boiler. Both appliances must be inspected as part of the annual check.

The post-war council housing between Borstal and the Delce was built slightly later and often had gas heating installed from the outset or shortly after construction. These properties tend to have simpler gas installations — usually a single boiler — but the age of the installation means the pipework and connections may be approaching the point where corrosion or wear becomes a concern.

One factor that affects Borstal properties specifically is the topography. The area sits on a slope above the River Medway, and some properties have boiler flues that terminate on walls facing the valley. Depending on the aspect, these flues can be exposed to strong winds that affect combustion. Our inspection checks that the flue is performing correctly and that the boiler's safety systems respond appropriately to any external pressure changes.

Former right-to-buy properties in Borstal sometimes have gas installations that were modified by previous owners without proper Gas Safe notification. During our inspection, if we identify gas work that does not meet current standards, we report it and advise on what needs to be done. This protects you as a landlord from inheriting another person's non-compliant installation.