Five What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate Lessons From The Pros
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It is important to understand your responsibilities as landlords when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must examine your flues and appliances at least once a year. You should also give a copy of your gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following carrying out a safety check. It should contain all the details about the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these items are in good operating order and to provide their tenants with copies of the completed document.
All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months and to obtain an annual certificate of gas safety. The regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections at least a month prior to the expiration of their current certificate. This allows them to avoid any lapse in coverage and gives the best protection 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 perform an exhaustive inspection of all of the gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. The engineer will also test the emergency controls on each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing allow access for the inspection, the landlord can try to convince them to let them in by writing a strong letter outlining why they require the inspections to be conducted and what will happen in the event they refuse to allow them access. If this doesn't work the landlord might consider starting the eviction by delivering the tenant with a Section 21 notice.
You must provide your tenants a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each inspection. This must be provided to current tenants, as well as new tenants prior to their move into the property. It is also necessary to keep the original record for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible for ensuring that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly inspected by a Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost of the test can vary from PS60 to PS120 depending on the nature of the test. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be passed on to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. This document is a proof of the inspection and must be kept by the landlord two years after the date of the first inspection. It's recommended to store the documents online to reduce waste.
Landlords also need to ensure that they can access the property for annual gas safety certificate cp12 safety and service inspections. The law states that if the tenant refuses access, the landlord has to adopt reasonable measures to gain entry and complete the check. This may include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for access. You can also contact your local council, who may be able to send an official to explain why it's essential to allow access for maintenance and safety inspections.
If a tenant still refuses to give access to the property, the landlord should think about beginning the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to expel tenants who refuse to cooperate with security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior making this decision because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework and flues, appliances and other equipment that they own and provide for use by the tenants. This applies even if the property is completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements should cooperate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has employed the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is crucial to know who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Some agents are responsible for this, but it's important to inquire with the agency prior to your visit to ensure you are fully covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
When a landlord rents out their property they need to ensure that it is safe for those living there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all gas appliances and flues within the property have been inspected and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas safe building regulations compliance certificate engineer. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks done every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who live there. The checks should be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number as well as a date of issue.
The landlord is also required to give tenants a copy the gas certificate within 28 working days after the completion of any checks. Similarly, the landlord must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in.
There are exceptions to this policy but only when the property is used for short-term rentals like student housing or holiday cottages. It is recommended to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement since it can save you a lot of hassle and potential legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he must repair them as soon as he can. This could mean the removal and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must verify their identity by looking at their photocard before carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules governing gas safety checks for landlords and landlords are strict and must be complied with. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations and is prosecuted, they could be fined and face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord safety certificate and want to arrange a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your home to conduct an entire inspection and provide you with an cp12 certificate (linked web page). We offer competitive prices and same-day service for emergency situations. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas check?
If you rent out part or all of your home, it's your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety check. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, including pipework, flues, and fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases.
A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure everything is up to date and safe. 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 supply is working and that the gas meter is stocked with money on it.
It is a good idea to give your tenants an original copy of the gas safety report after the inspection and verification was carried out. It must be provided to tenants in the period of 28 days and to tenants who are new before moving in. Keep a copy of your gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords are accountable for arranging and paying for gas safety inspections and certificates for their properties. If a tenant refuses to permit you to conduct the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include writing a strong letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the security checks will be. If the tenant is unwilling to allow you access and you are not able to gain access, you might be considering a Section 21 eviction.
Your annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't need to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll need get it done. You can be confident that our team will be there to assist you if you want to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information about our insurance for landlords you can visit the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a no-cost quote to learn more about the coverage and how much you'll have to pay. Our no-price hike guarantee guarantees that your annual premium will not rise more than the rate of inflation for the first year.