What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It is important to understand your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998, are a requirement for landlords.
You must arrange for your on-site appliances and flues to be inspected annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide an original copy of your gas safety certificate to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property after conducting a safety audit. The document should contain all the information regarding the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that all these things are in good working order and that they give their tenants copies of the completed form.
All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months and obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations also require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month before the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This will prevent any coverage lapse and offers the most effective protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord, you will need to get a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will inspect the gas appliances and pipes within the property. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will advise you on the correct repairs required to bring them up to standards and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If a tenant is refusing to allow access for the inspection, the landlord may try to convince them to let them in by writing a strong letter outlining why they require the checks done and what will happen in the event they refuse to let them in. If this isn't working the landlord might think about initiating the eviction process by delivering an Section 21 notice.
Your tenants must receive copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days after every check. The record should be provided to existing tenants as well as any new tenants prior to when they move into your property. You should also keep the original records for two years.
What is a tenant gas safety certification?
In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their properties are checked annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost could vary from PS60 to PS120 depending on the scope of the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be given to the tenants in four weeks after the test is completed. This document serves as an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the initial inspection, however it is recommended to store them online to help reduce the amount of the amount of paper used.
Landlords also need to ensure that they can access the property to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that if the tenant refuses access, the landlord has to take'reasonable measures' to gain entry and carry out the check. This may include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and reiterating requests for access. It can also include calling the local council, who may be able to send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the property, the landlord could consider the possibility of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who do not cooperate with security checks. This can be a difficult process, so landlords must consult with a lawyer before making a decision.
The landlord is accountable for all gas pipework, appliances and flues that they own and provide to tenants. This is true even if the property has been wholly or partly sub-let by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and any other person who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements should cooperate, with a an explicit allocation of responsibilities to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has hired the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is essential to find out who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it is important to inquire with the agency in advance to ensure that you are fully covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
If a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that it is safe for the people who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed engineer and deemed safe. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are carried out every year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to tenants. The checks should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must include the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of issue.
It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any inspections being completed. Similarly, they must give new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to their move into the property.
There are some exceptions to this rule however, when the property is used for short-term lets like holiday cottages for students or student housing. It would be a good idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, because it will save you a lot of hassle and legal complexities in the future.
If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues are not in compliance with the safety standards of an inspection, he should repair them in the shortest time possible. This may mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity using their photo card prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions discussed above, the rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are very strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found to not comply with the regulations they could face prosecution and could face fines or even jail sentences for the person who is in breach.
If how long does gas safety certificate last 're a landlord who needs to arrange for a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out an extensive inspection and provide you with a CP12 certificate. We provide competitive prices and same-day service in the event of an emergency. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas check?
Legally, you are accountable for an annual gas safety check each year if you lease out the entirety or a portion of your home. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, such as pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and ensure that everything is safe and up-to-date. They will examine the flues and gas appliances and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas is switched on and that the gas meter is filled up.
It's a good idea to provide your tenants with an original copy of the gas safety record after the inspection and test was carried out. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28-days and to tenants who are new before moving into. You should also keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use.
Landlords are responsible for arranging and paying for gas safety inspections and certificates for their properties. However, if a tenant refuses access to allow the check or maintenance work to be completed, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain entry. This could mean sending a clearly written letter explaining why you need access to the property and what security checks will entail. If the tenant does not let you in and you are not able to gain access, you might think about a Section 21 eviction.
When you purchase an insurance policy for your landlord through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. You don't have to worry about scheduling it separately or when you'll require it. You can be assured that our team will be available to help you if you want to change your policy information or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree site to find out more about our insurance for landlords. You can also enroll for a free quote to learn more about the packages and how much you'll have to pay. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual premium will not rise more than the rate of inflation for the first year.