What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord it is important to know your obligations when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide the gas safety certificate to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for a landlord is a formal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property after carrying out a safety check. It should contain all of the information about the properties gas pipework, flues, and appliances that are checked for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that these items are in good order and to give copies of the completed document to their tenants.
The law requires that all landlords have their properties checked and receive an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require that landlords plan their inspections at least one month before expiration of the current certificate. This allows them to avoid any lapse in coverage and offers the most effective protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a landlord gas safety certificate you must arrange for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will examine the gas appliances and pipes within the property. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord could try to convince them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the inspections to be conducted and what will happen should they refuse to let them in. If this fails the landlord may look into initiating the eviction process by giving them an Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to give your tenants a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of each check being carried out. This should be provided to existing tenants as well as to new tenants prior to their move into the property. You must also keep the original document for two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are tested annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost could range from PS60 to PS120 based on the scope of the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be distributed to the tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. This document is a record that should be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the initial inspection. It is recommended to store the documents online to reduce waste.
Landlords also need to ensure that they can access the property for annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord has to adopt reasonable measures to gain access and complete the check. This could include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for access. You can also contact the local council, who may be able send an official to explain why it is crucial to allow access for maintenance and safety checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to grant access, the landlord should consider starting the process of eviction. While this should be a last resort however, it is a legal right for a landlord to expel a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this action as it may be difficult.
The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues to 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 other person who acquires duties through contractual arrangements should work together, with clear division of duties, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
It is crucial to find out whether a landlord has hired a managing agent for their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for organizing gas safety tests. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it's important to inquire with the agency in advance to be certain that you are fully protected.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
If a landlord leases their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for those who live there. Gas safety certificates prove that all gas appliances and flues have been examined by a qualified engineer and deemed safe. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are carried out every year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to the tenants. The checks should be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number and date of the issue.
The landlord must also give the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 days following the completion of any checks. Similarly, the landlord must provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into.
There are exceptions to this rule but only when the property is used for short-term rentals such as holiday cottages for students or student housing. It's a good idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement because it will save you a lot of stress and legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers their flues or appliances are not in compliance with the safety standards of an inspection, he should make the necessary repairs as soon as he can. This may mean disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords are responsible for making sure that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must check their identity by seeing their identification card prior to carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions discussed above, the regulations governing gas safety checks for landlords are very strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found to not comply with the regulations, they could face prosecution, which can result in fines or even jail sentences for the party who committed the offense.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange 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 an CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we provide an same-day service for emergency situations. For gas safety certificate duplicate , give us a the number or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas safety inspection?
You are legally obliged to conduct an annual gas safety inspection every year if you rent out the entirety or a portion of your home. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, which includes pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home to ensure everything is safe and up-to-date. They will test all the gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure that the gas is switched on and that the gas meter is charged up.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to provide the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out to tenants in the period of 28 days and to new tenants before moving in. You should keep an original copy for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This may include sending a clearly written letter explaining why you need access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant still refuses, you can consider starting the Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't have to arrange it separately or think about when you'll have to get it done. You can also rest assured that we're here for you if you need to renew your insurance or amend any details.
For more information about our landlord insurance packages, please visit the Hometree website. Sign up for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and costs. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual cost will not increase more than the rate of inflation for the first year.