What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord it's crucial to know your obligations when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Landlords must adhere to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Gas Safe registered engineers must inspect your flues and appliances on site annually. You must also give an original copy of your gas safety certificate to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a formal document that a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety inspection. The document should contain all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that these items are in good order and to give copies of the document to their tenants.
All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months and to obtain a new certificate of gas safety. The regulations require that landlords plan their inspections at least a month prior to the expiration of their current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapses in coverage and offer the most secure protection for their tenants.
In order to obtain a landlord gas safety certificate You will need to make arrangements for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will perform an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will inform you on the correct work required to bring them back up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate.
If the tenant is unable to let the landlord in, the landlord may try to convince them by delivering an email that explains the reason for the checks and what happens to them if they do not allow them entry. If how often gas safety certificate doesn't work, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by delivering the tenant with a Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days following each check. This should be given to all tenants, including any new tenants prior to when they move into your property. You should also keep the original record for two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances within their homes are regularly inspected by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost of the test can vary from PS60 to PS120, depending on the scope of the inspection. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, and it must be passed on to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. This document is a record and must be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the first inspection. It's recommended to store them online in order to reduce the amount of waste.
The landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual gas and service security checks. If a tenant refuses to admit access, the law states that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the check. It could be necessary to write to the tenant, ask them to contact an engineer directly, and to repeatedly request access. It can also include contact with the local council, who may be able send an official circular to explain the necessity of granting access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If the tenant does not let access in, the landlord may consider eviction. While this is not a last option however, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. This can be a complicated process, so landlords must consult with a lawyer before taking such a step.
The landlord is accountable for all gas pipework and flues, appliances and other equipment that they own and provide for use by the tenants. This is true even if a landlord sublets the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone else who has been given duties through a contract, must work together to ensure the requirements of the law are met.
If a landlord has enlisted the services of a managing agent to oversee their rental properties, it is essential that they find out who is responsible for conducting the gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is important to inquire with the agency in advance to ensure that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
If a landlord leases their property, they must make sure that the place is safe for the people who reside there. A gas safety certificate shows that all gas appliances and flues in the property have been inspected and deemed to be safe by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are performed each year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to tenants. The checks should be conducted by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number and a date of issue.
It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants prior to their move into.
This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief period of time, like the student house or holiday home. It's recommended to include information about these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, since it can save you a lot of hassle and legal issues in the future.
If a landlord finds that any of their appliances or flues are unsafe during the course of an inspection, they should arrange for them to be repaired as soon as is possible. This could mean the removal and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords must make sure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted and could face fines or even prison sentences.
If you're a landlord and want to arrange for an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform an entire inspection and provide you with a CP12 certificate. Our prices are competitive and we can provide a same day service in the event of an emergency. Contact us or visit our site for more details.
What is an annual gas safety inspection?
You are legally accountable for an annual gas safety check each year if you rent out some or all of your home. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, which includes flues, pipework and any fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
landlord gas safety certificate how often certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will test all the gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also ensure that the gas supply is on and the gas meter has money on it.
After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to give a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be given to tenants in the period of 28 days and to tenants who are new before moving into. It is also recommended to keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant refuses access to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out it is your responsibility to take'reasonable steps' to gain access. You can send a letter explaining the reason you require access to the property and the safety checks that must be conducted. If the tenant is unwilling to give you access, you may want to consider the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.
When you purchase a landlord insurance policy through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. You don't need to worry about scheduling it separately or when you will require it. You can be assured that our team will be available to help you if you want to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information on our insurance plans for landlords you can visit the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a free estimate to learn more about the coverage and how much you'll pay. Our no-price hike guarantee means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.