What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's crucial to know your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are required for landlords.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate for landlords?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue the landlord with a gas safety certificate to the owner after a safety inspection. It should contain all of the details about the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that are checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the items are in good working order and to send copies of the completed form to their tenants.
All landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected every 12 months and obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month prior to when the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This helps them avoid any lapses in coverage and offer the most secure security for their tenants.
To get a landlord's gas safety certificate An engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will examine the gas appliances and pipes within the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are found to be hazardous the engineer will inform 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 allow access for the inspection, the landlord can try to convince them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the checks done and what will happen if they don't allow them access. If this fails the landlord may look into initiating the eviction process by giving them a Section 21 notice.
As an owner, you must provide your tenants with a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of each check being conducted. The record should be provided to both existing tenants and any new tenants, prior to the time they move into your property. In addition, you should keep a copy the lease for two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the cost can range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be passed on to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. The document is a proof of the inspection and should be kept by the landlord two years after the date of the initial inspection. gas safety certificate replacement 's recommended to store the documents online to reduce waste.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property in order to conduct the annual service and gas security inspections. If a tenant is unwilling to allow access, the law stipulates that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the inspection. It could be necessary to write to the tenant, asking them to contact an engineer directly and to repeat requests for access. It can also include calling the local council, who may be able send an official round to explain the importance of granting access to safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to give access to the property, the landlord should think about initiating the process of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior making this decision because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is accountable to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for the 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 given duties by contract, should cooperate to ensure that the statutory requirements are met.
It is crucial to determine whether a landlord has employed a managing agent for their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for organizing gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it's worth checking with the agency in advance to ensure that you are fully protected.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-let?
If 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 shows that all the gas appliances and flues in the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas engineer. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks completed every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who live there. The checks must be performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of issue.
The landlord must also give the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 working days following the completion of any checks. Similarly, the landlord must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in.
There are some exceptions to this rule but only when the property is used for short-term lets like holiday cottages for students or student housing. It would be an ideal idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, because it will save you a lot of trouble and potential legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he should fix them as soon as possible. This may require the disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords should ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations regarding gas safety inspections for landlords as well as landlords are extremely strict and must be adhered to. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted and face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord and need to arrange a gas safety inspection, 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 an CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are affordable and we offer a same day service for emergency situations. Contact us or visit our site for more details.
What is an annual gas safety check?
Legally, you are accountable for an annual gas safety check each year if you rent out the entirety or a portion of your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances including pipes and flues, and the fixtures and fittings that 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 all the gas appliances and flues and look for signs of leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. 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 provide the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28-days and to tenants who are new before moving in. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant does not permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. You can send an explanation in a letter of why you require access to the property and the security inspections that are required. If the tenant is still refusing the request, you may want to consider initiating an Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't have to worry about scheduling it separately or when you will need to do it. You can rest assured that our team will be there to assist you should you're looking to update your policy information or renew your policy.
For more information about our landlord insurance packages, please visit the Hometree website. Register for a quote to learn more about the coverage and price. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual cost will not increase more than the rate of inflation for the first year.