What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it's crucial to know your obligations when it comes to the safety of gas at your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, are a requirement for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues regularly on site. Also, you must provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a formal document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety inspection. It should contain all the information regarding the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that are checked for safety. Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that all these items 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 checked and receive an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections no later than one month prior to when the current certificate is due to expire. This allows them to prevent any coverage gaps and ensure the best security for their tenants.
To obtain a landlord's gas safety certificate An engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. do i need a gas safety certificate will perform an inspection of all gas appliances and installation pipes within the property. Additionally, certificate cost will also test the emergency controls for each appliance. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will advise you on the correct repair work required to bring them up to standards and issue an updated gas safety certificate.
If the tenant refuses to allow the landlord to in, the landlord can try to persuade them by sending them an explanation in the letter of why the checks are necessary and what will happen to them if they don't allow them entry. If this doesn't work, the landlord can then think about initiating the eviction process by serving them with a Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to provide your tenants with a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is being carried out. The record should be provided to both existing tenants and any new tenants, before they move into your property. You must also keep the original record for a period of 2 years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are tested annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the costs can vary between PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the check. The engineer will give an CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. The CP12 must be given to the tenants within four weeks after the test is completed. This document serves as an account of the inspections and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the initial inspection, although it's recommended to store them online to help reduce the amount of the amount of paper that is thrown away.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual gas and service safety inspections. If a tenant does not allow access, the law says that the landlord must take all reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the inspection. This can include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for access. This could also mean contacting the local council who may be able to send an official letter to explain the necessity of granting access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access, the landlord should consider beginning the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to expel tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior making this decision as it may be difficult.
The landlord is required to supply gas appliances, pipes and flues for tenants. This applies regardless of whether the property is completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any other person who acquires duties through contractual arrangements should work together, with clear division of duties, to ensure that the legal requirements are met.
If a landlord has hired the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is important to know who is responsible for arranging the gas safety tests. Some agents will take on this responsibility, but it is important to check with the agency to make sure that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
When a landlord rents their property, they must make sure that the place is safe for the residents who reside there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues in the property have been checked and deemed safe by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are carried out each year, and copies of the certificates are provided to tenants. The checks must be conducted by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number as well as a date of issue.
It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. In the same way, they must provide any new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to moving into the property.
This rule is not applicable if the property has been rented out for a short time, such as the student house or holiday cottage. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract to avoid any future legal issues.
If a landlord discovers that their appliances or flues do not meet the safety standards of an inspection, they must fix them as soon as he can. This could mean the removal and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must 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 regulations for landlords and gas safety inspections are extremely strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found not comply with the regulations, they could face prosecution, which can result in fines or even jail sentences for the offending party.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange for a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out a full check and provide you with the CP12 certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a a call or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
Legally, you are accountable for an annual gas safety check each year if you lease out a part or all your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances including flues and pipework, and any fixtures and fittings which utilize or exhaust gas.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure everything is up to date and safe. They will examine the gas appliances and flues and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas is turned on and that the gas meter is filled up.
After the inspection and the examination, it's a good idea to give an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out to existing tenants within 28-days and to tenants who are new before moving into. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant refuses access to allow the inspection or maintenance work to be completed it is your responsibility to take'reasonable steps' to gain access. You can send an email explaining why you have to gain access to the property and the safety checks involved. If the tenant continues to refuse to allow access, you could consider launching an Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety check is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. This means that you don't need to organize it on your own or worry about when you'll need do it. You can be assured that our team will be available to help you if you need to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information on our insurance for landlords, please visit the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a no-cost estimate to learn more about the coverage and the cost you'll be paying. Our guarantee of no price increases means that you won't pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate in the first year.