What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Landlords must comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide the gas safety record to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue a landlord gas safety certification to the property owner following an inspection to ensure safety. The document should include all the details regarding the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the items are in good order and to give copies of the document to their tenants.
All landlords are required by law to inspect their properties every 12 months, and to obtain a new certificate of gas safety. The regulations require landlords to plan their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapse in coverage and gives the best protection for their tenants.
To obtain a landlord gas safety certificate, you will need to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will inspect every gas appliance and pipework within the property. In addition, the engineer will also examine the emergency controls of each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance.
If the tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord may try to persuade them by sending a strongly worded letter explaining why they need the inspections to be conducted and what happens if they don't allow them to enter. If this fails, the landlord can then think about initiating the eviction process by serving them with an Section 21 notice.
As a landlord, you must give your tenants a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is being conducted. This must be provided to current tenants as well as new tenants prior to their move in. Additionally, you must also keep a copy of the lease for two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances within their properties are checked annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost could vary from PS60 to PS120, depending on the extent of the check. The engineer will give an CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. The document is required to be handed out to tenants within four weeks following the test is completed. This document is a record and should be stored by the landlord two years after the date of the initial inspection. It is recommended to keep them 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 checks. If a tenant is unwilling to allow access, the law says that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the inspection. This may include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for access. It could also involve calling the local council, who might be able to send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If a tenant still refuses to allow access, the landlord should consider beginning the process of eviction. While this should be considered a last option but it is legal right for the landlord to expel a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. This can be a complicated process, so landlords must consult with a lawyer before making a decision.
The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues to tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However the original landlord and any other person who has been assigned responsibilities by contract, should work together to ensure the statutory requirements 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 organizing the gas safety test. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is important to check with the agency in advance to be certain that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
When a landlord rents out their property they need to ensure that it is safe for the people who live there. A gas safety certificate proves that all the gas appliances and flues in the property have been tested and deemed safe by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are performed every year, and that copies of the certificates are given to tenants. The checks must be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and date of issue.
It is also legal for landlords to provide the tenants a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any inspections being completed. The landlord must also give new tenants a copy of the CP12 form before they move into the property.
There are exceptions to this rule, however, if the property is used for short-term lets such as holiday cottages or student housing. It would be recommended to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement because it will save you a lot of stress and potential legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that their flues or appliances are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he must make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. This may mean disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords should ensure that their gas engineers are registered with Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the rules for landlords and gas safety inspections are very strict and must be adhered to. If the landlord is found not comply with the regulations they may be charged and could face penalties of fines or even jail time for the party who committed the offense.
If you're a landlord who needs to arrange for an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property and carry out a thorough inspection, and issue you with a CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we can provide a same day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a the number or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
You are legally accountable for an annual gas safety inspection every year if you rent out some or all of your home. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including flues, pipework and any fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and ensure that everything is safe and up-to-date. They will examine the flues and gas appliances and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also check that the gas supply is working and that the gas meter is stocked with money in it.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to provide the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be provided to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days and to new tenants prior to they move in. Keep the copy for yourself as well as any agents you employ.
Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. However, if tenants refuse to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain entry. You can send an email explaining why you have to gain access to the property and the security inspections that are required. If certificate cost continues to refuse the request, you may want to consider initiating a Section 21 eviction process.
When you buy an insurance policy for landlords with Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. This means that you don't need to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll need to get it done. You can be confident that our team will be there to assist you should you want to change your policy information or renew your policy.
For more information about our insurance for landlords check out the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a free quote to find out more about what's included and how much you'll pay. Our guarantee of no price increases means that you will not pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.