What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord it's important to understand your responsibilities when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be examined each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the owner after an inspection to ensure safety. The document should include all the details regarding the gas pipework of the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that all these items are in good functioning order and give their tenants copies of the document they have completed.
The law requires that all landlords have their property examined and obtain an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require landlords to plan their inspections at least one month before expiration of the current certificate. This allows them to avoid any lapse in coverage and provides the best possible protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord you must arrange for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will inspect every gas appliance and pipework in the property. The engineer will also test each appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are deemed to be dangerous, the engineer will advise you on the correct repair work needed in order to bring them back up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If the tenant is refusing to 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 explaining why they need the checks to be completed and what happens if they don't allow them to enter. If this doesn't work, the landlord can then think about initiating the eviction process by sending them an Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days following every check. This should be given to all tenants, including any new tenants, prior to the time they move into your property. In addition, you must keep a copy of the document for a period of two years.
What is gas safety certificate duplicate for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances within their properties are checked annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the cost could range from PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will give a CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. The CP12 must be provided to tenants within four weeks following the test has been completed. The 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 them online to reduce waste.
Landlords must also ensure that they can access the property to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that in the event the tenant refuses access, the landlord must adopt reasonable measures to gain entry and complete the check. This could include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for entry. It can also include contact with the local council, who might be able to send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access the landlord should think about starting the process of expulsion. While this should be considered a last resort however, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior to making this decision because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is required to supply gas appliances, pipes and flues for the tenants. This is the case even if the property is wholly or partly sub-let by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and any person who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements should work together, with an explicit allocation of responsibilities to ensure that the statutory requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has enlisted the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is crucial that they find out who is responsible for arranging the gas safety tests. Certain agents will assume 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 leases their property, they have to make sure that the place is safe for the people who live there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all gas appliances and flues in the property have been checked and deemed safe by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are carried out every year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to tenants. The checks should be conducted by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number and a 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. Similarly, they must give new tenants a copy the CP12 form before they move into the property.
There are some exceptions to this rule, however, in the case of a property being used for short-term leases such as holiday cottages for students or student housing. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract to avoid any future legal issues.
If a landlord discovers their flues or appliances are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he should make the necessary repairs in the shortest time possible. This may require the disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords must make sure that their gas engineers have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are strict and must be adhered to. If a landlord is found in violation of the rules and is prosecuted, they could be fined and could face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange for an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your home to conduct an entire inspection and issue the CP12 certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we provide an same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas check?
If you lease out a part or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances, including pipes and flues and any fixtures and fittings which utilize or exhaust gas.
A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will examine the gas appliances and flues and look for signs 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 check, it's a great idea to give the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be given to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to new tenants before moving in. Keep an original copy for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to permit you to conduct the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include writing a strong letter stating why you require access to the property and what safety checks will involve. If the tenant is unwilling to give you access and you are not able to gain access, you might want to consider the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.
When you buy an insurance policy for landlords through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. You don't need to worry about scheduling it separately or when you'll require it. You can be confident that our team will be available to assist you if you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree website for more details about our landlord insurance plans. Register for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and price. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual premium will not increase more than the rate of inflation for the first year.