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 required for landlords.
You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected every year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also give the gas safety record to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety inspection. It should contain all the information regarding the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that these items are in good working order and to send copies of the document to their tenants.
All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months, and to obtain a new certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations also require that landlords ensure they plan their inspections no more than one month prior to when the certificate due to expire. This will help them avoid any gaps in coverage and ensure the best protection to their tenants.
To obtain a landlord gas safety certificate You will need to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will carry out a full inspection of all of the gas appliances and installation pipes within the property. Additionally, the engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance. If any of the appliances are deemed to be dangerous, the engineer will advise you on the correct repair work required to bring them up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If a tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord could attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter that explains why they should have the inspections to be conducted and what happens if they don't allow them to enter. If this isn't working the landlord could decide to start the eviction process by delivering an Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days following each inspection. The record should be provided to existing tenants as well as any new tenants, prior to the time they move into the property. You must also keep the original records for two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible for ensuring that all gas appliances in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the costs can vary between PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection, which must be handed over to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. The document is an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the initial inspection, however it is recommended that they are stored online to reduce paper waste.
Landlords also need to ensure that they have access to the property for annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that if a tenant refuses access, the landlord has to use reasonable measures to gain entry and complete the check. It may be necessary to write to the tenant, request that they contact an engineer directly and to repeat requests for access. You may also contact the local council, who may be able send an official to explain why it's essential to allow access for safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access to the property, the landlord should think about initiating the process of eviction. While this should be a last resort but it is legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice before making this decision as it may be difficult.
landlord gas safety certificate uk is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues to tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublets the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone who is obligated through a contract, must work together to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements.
If a landlord has hired the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is important that they find out who is in charge of arranging the gas safety tests. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it's worth checking with the agency ahead of time to be certain that you are fully protected.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-letting?
If a landlord leases their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for the residents who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified engineer and found to be safe. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks done each year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who reside there. The checks must be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number and a date of the issue.
It is also legal for landlords to provide the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. Similarly, they must give any new tenants a copy of the CP12 form prior to moving into the property.
There are exceptions to this rule but only when the property is used for short-term leases like student housing or holiday cottages. It would be a good idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, as it could save you a lot of trouble and legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that their appliances or flues do not meet safety standards during an inspection, he should repair them as soon as he can. This could involve disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installation. certificate cost are accountable for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must check their identity by seeing their photo ID before completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the regulations for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are very strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found be in violation of the rules, they could be prosecuted, which can result in fines and even jail sentences for the offending party.
Total Landlord is here to help if you are a landlord that needs to arrange an inspection for gas safety. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property, carry out a full inspection and issue a CP12 gas safety certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergencies. Call us or visit our site today for more information.
What is an annual check-up on gas?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it is your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, which includes pipes, flues and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and make sure that all is in good order and up-to-date. They will test all gas appliances and flues, and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also ensure that the gas is switched on and that the gas meter is topped up.
It's a good idea to give your tenants an original copy of the gas safety certificate after the inspection and verification was carried out. It should be given to any existing tenants within 28 days, and to new tenants prior to they move in. It is also recommended to keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use.
Landlords are accountable for arranging and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. However, if tenants refuse to allow the check or maintenance work to be completed, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain entry. This could mean writing a strong letter stating why you require access to the property and what the security checks will entail. If the tenant still refuses 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. There's no need to fret about arranging it in a separate manner, or when you'll require it. You can be assured that our team will be available to assist you should you're looking to change your policy information or renew your policy.
For more information on our landlord insurance packages you can visit the Hometree website. You can also enroll for a free estimate to learn more about the packages and how much you'll pay. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.