What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's crucial to know your responsibilities as a landlord with regards 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 every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also provide a copy of the gas safety record to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for a landlord is an official document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety inspection. It should contain all of the information regarding the property's gas pipework, flues, and appliances that are inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these things are in good operating order and to provide their tenants with copies of the completed form.
The law requires that all landlords have their property checked and receive an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require landlords to plan their inspections no more than one month before the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This helps them avoid any lapse in coverage and provides the best possible protection for their tenants.
To obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord, you will need to make arrangements for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will conduct a full inspection of all gas appliances and installation pipework within the property. The engineer will also test each appliance's emergency control. If any appliances are found to be dangerous the engineer will inform you on the correct repair work required to bring them up to standards and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If a tenant is refusing allow access for the inspection, the landlord can attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter that explains why they should have the inspections to be conducted and what would happen in the event they refuse to let them in. If this doesn't work the landlord should consider starting the eviction process by giving them the Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each check. This must be provided to current tenants as well as to any new tenants prior to when they move into the property. In addition, you should also keep a copy of the record for two years.
What is a tenant gas safety certificate?
Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are tested annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. gas certificates of the test can range from PS60 to PS120, depending on the scope of the inspection. The engineer will provide the CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. This document is required to be handed out to tenants within four weeks following the test is completed. The document is a record of the checks and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the initial inspection, although it's advised to keep them online to reduce the amount of paper used.
Landlords should also ensure that they have access to the property in order to carry out the annual gas and service safety checks. The law stipulates that in the event the tenant refuses access, the landlord must use reasonable measures to gain entry and complete the check. It is possible to contact the tenant in writing, asking them to contact an engineer directly, and to repeatedly request access. You may also contact the local council, who may be able send an official to explain why it's crucial to allow access for maintenance and safety inspections.
If gas certificate does not let access in to the property, the landlord could consider the possibility of eviction. While this should be considered a last option, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this step as it can be complicated.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework as well as flues, appliances and appliances that they own and offer to tenants. This is the case even if the landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone else who is obligated by contract, should cooperate to ensure that the statutory requirements are met.
It is important to find out whether a landlord has employed an agent to manage their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for arranging gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is important to check with the agency prior to your visit to ensure you are fully protected.
What is a gas safety certificate for sub-let?
When a landlord leases their property, they have to ensure that the property is safe for those who reside there. A gas safety certificate proves that all the gas appliances and flues within the property have been tested and deemed safe by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are carried out every year, and that copies of the certificates are given to tenants. The checks must be carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number as well as a date of issue.
It is also a legal requirement that the landlord hand the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. Similarly, the landlord must provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into.
This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief duration, such as a student house or holiday cottage. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract to prevent any legal issues later on.
If a landlord determines that any of their appliances or flues are unsafe during the course of an inspection, they must arrange to have them repaired as soon as they can. This could 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 using their photo card prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions discussed above, the rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are strict and must be complied with. If a landlord is found in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted and could be fined or even jail sentences.
Total Landlord is here to assist you if you're a landlord and need to schedule a gas safety inspection. Gas Safe engineers can visit your home to conduct a full check and provide you with an CP12 certificate. Our prices are affordable and we can provide an same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a call or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
Legally, you are responsible for a gas safety check every year if you rent out some or all of your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances like pipes and flues, and the fixtures and fittings that make use of or exhaust gas.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is current and safe. They will test all the gas appliances and flues, and look for signs of leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure that the gas supply is working and that the gas meter has money on it.
After the inspection and the inspection, it's a good idea to give a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. The record must be handed out to existing tenants within 28 days and to any new tenants prior to when they move in. You should also keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. If a tenant does not let you carry out the maintenance or check, then you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could mean writing a strong letter explaining why you need access to the property and what security checks will be. If the tenant refuses to allow you access, you may be considering a Section 21 eviction.
Your annual gas safety check is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't have to organize it on your own or fret about when you'll need to do it. You can also be confident that we've got your back should you need to renew your insurance or alter any information.
Visit the Hometree site for more information on our landlord insurance packages. Request an estimate to find out more about the coverage and cost. Our guarantee of no price increase means that you won't pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.