What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your obligations as landlords when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are required for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must inspect your flues and appliances regularly on site. Also, you must provide an original copy of your gas safety record to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following carrying out a safety check. It should contain all of the information about the properties gas pipework, flues and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these items are in good working order and that they provide their tenants with copies of the completed document.
The law requires that all landlords have their property inspected and get an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations also require that landlords ensure they plan their inspections no more than one month prior to when the current certificate is due to expire. This will help them avoid any lapses in coverage and provide the best protection to their tenants.
To obtain a landlord's Gas Safety certificate, an engineer registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will examine the gas appliances and pipes within the property. In addition, the engineer will also examine the emergency controls of each appliance. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous, the engineer will advise you on the correct repairs needed in order to bring them back up to standards and issue an updated gas safety certificate.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord can try to convince them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the checks done and what would happen if they don't let them in. If this doesn't work, the landlord can then consider starting the eviction process by sending them a Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of every check. It should be handed out to existing tenants as well as any new tenants prior to when they move in. It is also necessary to keep the original records for a period of 2 years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances in their properties are regularly tested by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the costs can vary between PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection. This document must be distributed to tenants within four weeks after the test has been completed. This document is a record and should be stored by the landlord for two years after the date of the initial inspection. It is recommended to keep 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 service and gas safety inspections. If a tenant does not permit access, the law states that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the inspection. It is possible to contact the tenant in writing, ask them to contact an engineer directly and to repeatedly request access. This could also mean contact with the local council, who might be able to send an official round to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow access to the property, the landlord should think about initiating the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who do not cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this step as it may be difficult.
The landlord is required to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues to tenants. This is true even if a landlord sublet the property to a third party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and anyone else who has been given duties by contract, must collaborate to ensure that compliance with the statutory requirements.
If a landlord has employed the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is important to find out who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Some agents are responsible for this, but it's important to check with the agency in advance to be certain that you are protected.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
When a landlord rents out their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for those who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been inspected and deemed safe by an experienced gas engineer. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety checks done each year, and to ensure that copies are handed over to the tenants who live there. The checks must be performed by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number and date of issue.
The landlord must also give tenants a copy the gas certificate within 28 days after the completion of any checks. Similarly, they must give any new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to their move into the property.
This rule is not applicable if the property has been let out for a brief period of time, like a student house or holiday cottage. It would be an ideal idea to include details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement since it can save you a lot of stress and legal complexities in the future.
If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues are unsafe during the course of an inspection they should arrange to have them repaired as soon as is possible. This may require the disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords should ensure that their gas engineers are registered with Gas Safe registration and verify their identity using their photo card prior to completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords as well as landlords are strict and must also be observed. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations and is prosecuted, they could be fined and face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord who needs to arrange for a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your home to conduct a full check and issue a CP12 certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we offer the same day service for emergencies. For more information, give us an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas safety inspection?
If you rent out part or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety test. This includes checking the boiler and other gas appliances, including pipes and flues, and any fixtures and fittings which use or exhaust gas.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home to ensure all is in good order and up-to-date. They will examine the flues and gas appliances and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas supply is turned on and that the gas meter is stocked with money in it.
After the inspection and the examination, it's a good idea to give a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out to existing tenants within 28-days and to new tenants before moving into. You should keep the copy for yourself as well as any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. If a tenant does not permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include writing a strong letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the security checks will be. If the tenant refuses to let you in then you might be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.
If you purchase an insurance policy for landlords with Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. That means you don't have to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll need to complete it. You can be confident that our team will be there to assist you if you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information about our landlord insurance packages, please visit the Hometree website. Sign up for an estimate to learn more about the coverage and cost. Our no price hike promise means that your annual cost will not increase more than the rate of inflation for the first year.