What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it is important to know your responsibilities when it comes to the safety of gas in your property. Landlords must adhere to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide the gas safety certificate to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the property owner following an inspection to ensure safety. It should contain all of 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 functioning order and provide their tenants with copies of the completed document.
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 date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This will prevent any lapse in coverage and gives the best protection for their tenants.
To obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord, you will need to arrange for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will examine all gas appliances and pipework in the property. In addition, the engineer will also test the emergency controls for each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency controls on each appliance.
If the tenant is refusing to allow access for the inspection, the landlord can try to persuade them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the inspections to be conducted and what would happen in the event they refuse to allow them access. If gas safety certificate what is checked Milton Keynes Gas Safety fails the landlord should consider starting the eviction process by serving them with the Section 21 notice.
You must provide your tenants copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days after every check. The record should be given to current tenants as well as to any new tenants prior to when they move into the 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 should ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are tested annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost could range from PS60 to PS120 based on the nature of the inspection. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection, which must be distributed to tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. The document is a record that must be kept by the landlord two years following the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to keep the documents online to reduce the amount of waste.
The landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property to conduct annual gas safety and service inspections. If a tenant refuses to permit access, the law states that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the check. It may be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, ask them to contact an engineer directly and make repeated requests for access. This could also mean calling the local council, who may be able to send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access to maintenance and safety checks.
If a tenant is still refusing to give access, the landlord should consider beginning the process of eviction. While this is not a last resort but it is legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice before making this decision because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is accountable for all gas pipework, appliances and flues that they own and offer to tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublets the property to an outside party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and anyone who has been assigned responsibilities by contract, should cooperate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
If a landlord has employed the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is crucial that they find out who is responsible for conducting the gas safety tests. Certain agents will assume this responsibility, however you must consult with the agency to make sure that you are covered.
What is a gas safety certificate for sub-letting?
When a landlord rents their property, they have to ensure that it is safe for the residents who live there. Gas safety certificates prove that all gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified engineer and deemed safe. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks completed every year and that copies are handed over to the tenants who live there. The checks should be carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and date of issue.
It is also an obligation of law that the landlord hand the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. The landlord must also provide a copy CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into.
There are some exceptions to this rule, however, in the case of a property being used for short-term rentals such as student housing or holiday cottages. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract in order to avoid legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that their flues or appliances do not meet the safety standards of an inspection, he should repair them in the shortest time possible. This could mean disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installation. Landlords are responsible for making sure that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must verify their identity by examining their identification card prior to carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords as well as landlords are strict and must also be observed. If a landlord is found in violation of the rules and is prosecuted, they could be fined and face fines or even jail sentences.
Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord who needs to arrange an inspection of gas safety. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property, carry out a full inspection, and issue you with an CP12 gas safety certificate. We offer competitive prices and same-day service for emergency situations. Contact us or visit our site for more details.
What is an annual gas check?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it is your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety test. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, such as pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home to ensure all is in good order and up-to-date. They will test the gas appliances and flues and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas supply is working and that the gas meter is stocked with money on it.
It is a good idea to give your tenants a copy of the completed gas safety certificate after the inspection and test was completed. It must be given to tenants in the period of 28 days and to tenants who are new before moving in. Keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant refuses to permit you to conduct the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. You could send an explanation in a letter of why you need to access the property and the security checks involved. If the tenant still refuses the request, you may want to consider initiating a 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 have to get it done. You can rest assured that our team will be there to assist you should you need to update your policy information or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree site to find out more on our landlord insurance packages. You can also sign up for a no-cost quote to learn more about what's included and how much you'll pay. Our no price hike promise guarantees that your annual premium will not rise more than the rate of inflation for the first year.