What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are required for landlords.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue the landlord with a gas safety certificate to the owner following a safety inspection. The document should include all the information regarding the gas pipework of the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good working order and to give copies of the document to their tenants.
The law requires that all landlords have their properties examined and obtain a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month before the certificate due to expire. This helps them avoid any lapse in coverage and gives the best protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a landlord gas safety certificate, you will need to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will carry out an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. The engineer will also test the emergency controls on each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord can attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter outlining why they require the inspections to be conducted and what happens if they don't allow them to enter. If this isn't working, the landlord may think about initiating the eviction process by serving an Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to give your tenants a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check being carried out. This should be given to existing tenants as well as any new tenants prior to when they move in. In addition, you must keep a copy of the record for two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are regularly tested by an Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost could range from PS60-PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, and it must be distributed to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. This document is a record and must be kept by the landlord two years following the date of the initial inspection. It is recommended to store the documents online to reduce the amount of waste.
The landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property in order to conduct the annual service and gas security inspections. If a tenant does not allow access, the law stipulates that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to gain access to carry out the check. This may include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for entry. It can also include contacting the local council who might be able to send an official round to explain the importance of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.
If the tenant refuses to allow access and the landlord is considering the possibility of eviction. While this should be a last resort however, it is a legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with safety checks. This is a complex process, so landlords should consult a lawyer before taking such a step.
The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for tenants. This is true even if the property has been completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and anyone who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements should collaborate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the statutory requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has enlisted the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is crucial to find out who is in charge of arranging the gas safety tests. Some agents will take on this responsibility, however you must consult with the agency to confirm that you are protected.
What is a gas safety certificate for sub-letting?
When a landlord rents out their property, they must make sure that it is safe for the residents living there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues in the property have been checked and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are conducted every year, and that copies of the certificates are provided to tenants. The checks must be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of the issue.
The landlord must also provide tenants a copy the gas certificate within 28 working days after the completion of any checks. Similarly, they must give any new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to moving into the property.
This rule is not applicable if the property has been let out for a brief period of time, like an apartment for students or a holiday cottage. It's an ideal idea to include details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, as it could save you a lot of stress and legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that their appliances or flues do not meet the safety standards of an inspection, he must repair them as soon as possible. This may involve disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords should ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations governing gas safety checks for landlords and landlords are very strict and must be complied with. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations and is prosecuted, they could be fined and could be fined or even prison sentences.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange for an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your home and carry out a thorough inspection and provide you with the CP12 gas safety certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergencies. Contact us or visit our site today to learn more.
What is an annual gas safety inspection?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety check. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances including pipes and flues and any fittings and fixtures that make use of or exhaust gas.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that 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 ensure that the gas is on and that the gas meter is topped up.
It's a good idea to provide your tenants with a copy of the completed gas safety report after the inspection and verification has been carried out. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28-days and to new tenants before moving into. Keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use.
Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to let you carry out the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. You could send an email explaining why you have to gain access to the property and the safety inspections that are required. If the tenant continues to refuse, you can consider starting the Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't need to organize it on your own or think about when you'll have to get it done. You can also be confident that we're there for you should you need to renew your policy or alter any information.
For more information about our insurance plans for landlords check out the Hometree website. Sign up for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and cost. gas safety certificate homeowner means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.