What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your responsibilities as a landlord with regards 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 inspected each year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also give a copy of your gas safety certificate to your tenants.
What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the owner following a safety inspection. The document should contain all the details regarding the gas pipework of the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these items are in good functioning order and give their tenants copies of the document they have completed.
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 that landlords plan their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This allows them to avoid any lapse in coverage and gives the best protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord you must arrange for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will inspect every gas appliance and pipework in the house. In addition the engineer will test the emergency control for each appliance. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will advise you on the correct repair work required to bring them back up to standards and issue a new gas safety certificate.
If a tenant is refusing allow access for the inspection, the landlord could attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter outlining why they require the inspections to be conducted and what will happen if they don't let them in. If this fails, the landlord can then look into initiating the eviction process by serving them with an Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to give your tenants an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of each check that is carried out. It should be handed out to all tenants, including any new tenants, before they move into your property. In addition, you should keep a copy of the document for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost can vary from PS60 to PS120, depending on the extent of the inspection. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be passed on to tenants within four weeks after the test has been completed. This document is a record and should be stored by the landlord for two years following 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 to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. If a tenant is unwilling to admit access, the law stipulates that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the inspection. It is possible to write to the tenant, asking them to contact an engineer directly and to make repeated requests for entry. This could also mean contacting the local council who may be able send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow access the landlord should think about beginning the process of expulsion. While this should be a last resort, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with security checks. This can be a complicated procedure, and landlords should consult a lawyer before making a decision.
The landlord is accountable for all gas pipework, appliances and flues that they own and provide to tenants. This is true regardless of whether the property is entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any other person who acquires duties through contractual arrangements must work together, with clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the statutory requirements are fully met.
It is important to find out whether a landlord has employed an agent to manage their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for arranging 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 covered.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-letting?
If a landlord leases their property they need to make sure that it is safe for those who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues within the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by an accredited gas engineer. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they get their gas safety inspections done each year, and to ensure that copies are given to the tenants who reside there. The checks must be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of issue.
The landlord must also give the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 days after the completion of any checks. In the same way, landlords must provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in.
This rule is not applicable if the property has been let for a short duration, such as a student house or holiday cottage. It is an ideal idea to include information about these exemptions in your tenancy contract, because it will save you a lot of trouble and legal complexities in the future.
If a landlord discovers that any of their flues or appliances aren't safe in the course of an inspection, they must arrange for them to be fixed as soon as possible. This could mean the removal and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords are accountable 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 regulations regarding gas safety inspections for landlords as well as landlords are strict and must also be adhered to. If a landlord is found to be in breach of the rules, they could be prosecuted which could result in fines or even jail sentences for the person who is in breach.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform an extensive inspection and provide you with an CP12 certificate. Our prices are affordable and we provide an 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 safety check?
If you rent out part or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, such as pipework, flues, and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is current and safe. They will examine the gas appliances and flues, and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also check that the gas supply is working and that the gas meter has money in it.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to give a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. The record must be handed out to any existing tenants within 28 days, and to new tenants prior to they move 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 refuses access to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain access. This could include writing a strong letter stating why you require access to the property and what safety checks will involve. If the tenant is still refusing the request, you may want to consider initiating a Section 21 eviction process.
If you purchase a landlord insurance policy through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. You don't need to worry about arranging it separately, or when you will require it. You can also be assured that we're here for you should you need to renew your insurance or change any information.
For his explanation about our insurance for landlords, please visit the Hometree website. Request a quote to learn more about the coverage and costs. 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.