What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it's important to understand your responsibilities in relation to the gas safety of your property. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues at least once a year. Also, you must give a copy of your gas safety record to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue the landlord with a gas safety certificate to the property owner following an inspection to ensure safety. The document should contain all the information regarding the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good condition and to send copies of the completed form to their tenants.
The law requires that all landlords have their properties checked and receive a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations also require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month prior to when the certificate due to expire. This allows them to prevent any lapses in coverage and provide the best protection for their tenants.
To get a gas safety certificate for your landlord you must get a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will inspect every gas appliance and pipework in the house. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. The engineer will also test the emergency controls on each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord can attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection by sending a strongly worded letter explaining why they need the inspections to be conducted and what would happen in the event they refuse to allow them access. If this doesn't work, the landlord can then think about initiating the eviction process by giving them the Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to provide your tenants with a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of each check being carried out. The record should be given to existing tenants as well as to any new tenants before they move into the property. You must also keep the original record for two years.
What is how long does gas safety certificate last for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances in their properties are tested annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost can range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. The document must be provided to tenants in four weeks after the test has been 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 the documents online to reduce the amount of waste.
Landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property to conduct annual gas safety and service inspections. The law states that if tenants refuse access, the landlord has to use reasonable measures to gain access and complete the inspection. It could be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, ask them to contact an engineer directly and repeat requests for entry. It can also include contacting the local council who may be able to send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access to safety and maintenance inspections.
If the tenant refuses to let access in to the property, the landlord could consider the possibility of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to remove tenants who refuse to cooperate with security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice before making this decision as it can be complicated.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework, appliances and flues that they own and offer to tenants. This is true even if the property is completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and any other person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements should collaborate, with a an explicit allocation of responsibilities to ensure that the statutory requirements are met.
It is important to determine whether a landlord has employed a managing agent for their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for scheduling gas safety tests. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it is worth checking with the agency ahead of time to be certain that you are covered.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-let?
When a landlord rents their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for the residents living there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all the gas appliances and flues within the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by a qualified gas engineer. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks completed each year, and to ensure that copies are given to the tenants who reside there. The checks should be performed by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number as well as a date of the issue.
It is also an obligation of law for the landlord to give tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. In the same way, landlords must provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move into.
There are exceptions to this policy but only in the case of a property being used for short-term lets like holiday cottages for students or student housing. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract to avoid any future legal issues.
If a landlord discovers their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he must repair them as soon as he can. This may mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must check their identity by looking at their identification card prior to carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules governing gas safety checks for landlords are very strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found to not comply with the regulations, they could be prosecuted and could face fines or even jail sentences for the party who committed the offense.
If you're a landlord who needs 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, carry out a full inspection and provide you with the CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are affordable and we offer an same-day service for emergency situations. Call us or visit our site today to learn more.
What is an annual check-up on gas?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it's your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including flues, pipework and any fittings or fixtures that utilize 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 ensure that the gas is on and that the gas meter is topped up.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to give 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 into. Keep how long does a gas safety certificate last for yourself as well as any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety inspections and certificates for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to let you carry out the maintenance or check, then you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could mean writing a strong letter stating why you require access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant is unwilling to allow you access then you might be considering an Section 21 eviction.
Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. This means that you don't need to organize it on your own or fret about when you'll have to get it done. You can be confident that our team will be there to assist you if you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree site for more information on our landlord insurance packages. Sign up for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and price. Our promise of no price increases means that you won't pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.