What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's crucial to know your obligations as a landlord with regards to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must examine your flues and appliances at least once a year. Also, you must provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a formal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following carrying out a safety check. This document should contain all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been tested for safety. Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that all these things are in good working order and that they give their tenants copies of the completed form.
The law requires that every landlord has their property examined and obtain a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require that landlords ensure they schedule their inspections no later than one month before the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This will help them avoid any lapses in coverage and offer the most secure protection to their tenants.
To obtain a landlord's gas safety certificate an engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will inspect the gas appliances and pipes within the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency control. If any of the appliances are deemed to be dangerous the engineer will advise you on the correct repairs needed in order to bring them up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord may try to persuade them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the checks to be completed and what would happen should they refuse to allow them to enter. If this fails the landlord should look into initiating the eviction process by serving them with the Section 21 notice.
As a landlord, you must provide your tenants with a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check that is carried out. The record should be given to existing tenants as well as to any new tenants before they move into the property. Additionally, you must also keep a copy of the record for two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances within their properties are checked annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost could range from PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection, which must be distributed to the tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. The document is a record and should be kept by the landlord two years after the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to store them online in order to reduce waste.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property in order to conduct the annual gas and service security checks. If a tenant does not allow access, the law states that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to complete the inspection. This could include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, mkgassafety.co.uk and then reiterating requests for access. It can also include contacting the local council who may be able to send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access to safety and maintenance inspections.
If a tenant is still refusing to give access, the landlord should consider starting the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to remove tenants who do not cooperate with security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this action as it can be complicated.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework as well as flues, appliances and appliances that they own and provide to tenants. This is the case even if the landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone who has been given duties by contract, must collaborate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
If a landlord has enlisted the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is essential to know who is in charge of organizing the gas safety test. Some agents will take on this responsibility, but you should check with the agency to ensure that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
If a landlord leases their property they need to make sure that it is safe for the residents who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all gas appliances and flues in the property have been checked and deemed safe by a qualified gas engineer. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety inspections done every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who live there. The checks must be performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of the issue.
It is also legal for landlords to provide the tenants a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. The landlord must also give any new tenants a copy of the CP12 form prior to moving into the property.
This rule is not applicable when the property is let out for a brief duration, such as a student house or holiday home. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract to avoid legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers their flues or appliances do not meet the safety standards of an inspection, they must make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. This could mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are very strict and must be adhered to. If a landlord is found in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted and could be fined or even prison sentences.
Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord and need to schedule a gas safety inspection. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property and conduct a thorough inspection and issue a CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are affordable and we can provide the same day service in the event of an emergency. Call us or visit our site for more details.
What is an annual gas check?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, such as pipework, flues, and fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure everything is up to date and safe. They will test all the gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure that the gas supply is on and that the gas meter is stocked with money on it.
It's a good idea provide your tenants with a copy of the completed gas safety report after the inspection and check has been carried out. It must be provided to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days, and to new tenants prior to they move into the property. You should also keep a copy of your gas safety record for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for arranging and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This may include sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant refuses to let you in and you are not able to gain access, you might think about the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.
The annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. This means that you don't need to organize it on your own or fret about when you'll need to complete it. You can rest assured that our team will be available to assist you should you want to update your policy information or renew your policy.
For more information on our insurance for landlords check out the Hometree website. Register for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and cost. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you won't pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.