What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord, it's crucial to know your responsibilities when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues at least once a year. You should also provide a copy of your gas safety certificate to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a formal document that a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property after conducting a safety inspection. This should include all of the information about the properties gas pipework, flues and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that these items are in good condition and to give copies of the document to their tenants.
All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months and to obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations also require that landlords ensure they schedule their inspections no later than one month before the 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 landlord's Gas Safety certificate an engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will inspect the gas appliances and pipes in the property. Additionally the engineer will test the emergency controls for each appliance. If any appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will inform you on the correct repair work required to bring them up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If the tenant is refusing to allow access for the inspection, the landlord may try to persuade them to let them in by writing a strong letter that explains why they should have the checks done and what will happen in the event they refuse to allow them access. If this doesn't work, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by serving a Section 21 notice.
As a landlord, you must provide your tenants with a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is being conducted. It should be handed out to existing tenants as well as any new tenants, before they move into your property. You should also keep the original record for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their homes are regularly inspected by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the cost could range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be handed over to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. Milton Keynes Gas Safety is a record that should be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to keep the documents online to reduce the amount of waste.
Landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property for annual gas safety and service checks. If a tenant is unwilling to permit access, the law states that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to complete the check. It could be necessary to write to the tenant and ask them to contact an engineer directly and make repeated requests for entry. It could also involve contact with the local council, who might be able to send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access to maintenance and safety checks.
If the tenant does not let access in to the property, the landlord could consider eviction. While this should be a last resort, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. This is a complex process, so landlords should consult with a lawyer prior to taking this step.
The landlord is accountable to supply gas appliances, pipework and flues to tenants. This is true even if a landlord sublets the property to a third party. However the original landlord and anyone who has been given duties by contract, must cooperate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
It is essential to find out whether a landlord has employed an agent to manage their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for organizing gas safety tests. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it's worth checking with the agency prior to your visit to ensure that you are fully covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
If a landlord leases their property, they have to make sure that the place is safe for the people who live there. Gas safety certificates prove that all gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a licensed engineer and are deemed safe. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are conducted each year, and copies of the certificates are provided to the tenants. The checks must be carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and date of the issue.
The landlord must also provide tenants a copy the gas certificate within 28 working days following the conclusion of any checks. The landlord must also provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move into.
There are exceptions to this rule, however, when the property is used for short-term lets such as holiday cottages or student housing. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract to prevent any legal issues later on.
If a landlord finds that any of their flues or appliances aren't safe during the course of an inspection, they should arrange for them to be repaired as soon as they can. This may require the disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must make sure 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 discussed above, the regulations around gas safety checks for landlords are extremely strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found to be in violation of the rules, they may be charged, which can result in fines or even jail sentences for the person who is in breach.
If you're a landlord and need to arrange for a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform an entire inspection and issue the CP12 certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we provide an same-day service for emergency situations. For more information, give us an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual check-up on gas?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it's your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety check. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances like pipes and flues as well as any fixtures and fittings which use or exhaust gas.
A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure everything is up to date and safe. They will test the gas appliances and flues and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas is turned on and that the gas meter is filled up.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to give an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. It should be given to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days, and to any new tenants prior to when they move into the property. Keep an original copy for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for arranging and paying for gas safety inspections and certificates for their properties. If a tenant refuses to permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you need access to the property and what safety checks will involve. If the tenant still refuses to allow access, you could consider launching an Section 21 eviction process.
The annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't need to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll need get it done. You can be assured that our team will be available to assist you if you want to update your policy details or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree site for more information on our landlord insurance packages. Register for an estimate to learn more about the coverage and costs. Our no-price hike guarantee guarantees that your annual premium won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.