What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it is important to know your responsibilities when it comes to the safety of gas at your property. Landlords must 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. You must also provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for a landlord is an official document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety inspection. The document should include all the information regarding the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been tested for safety. Landlords are legally accountable for ensuring that all of these things are in good working order and that they provide their tenants with copies of the completed form.
The law requires that all landlords have their property examined and obtain a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require landlords to plan their inspections at least one month before expiration of their current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapses in coverage and offer the most secure protection for their tenants.
To obtain a landlord gas safety certificate you must arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will examine the gas appliances and pipes in the house. Additionally, the engineer will also test the emergency controls 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 an updated gas safety certificate.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord can try to convince them by sending a strongly worded letter outlining why they require the inspections to be conducted and what will happen if they don't allow them to enter. If this doesn't work the landlord should consider starting the eviction process by serving them with the Section 21 notice.
As an owner, you must give your tenants a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check being conducted. This should be given to both existing tenants and any new tenants prior to when they move in. You must also keep the original record for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly tested by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the costs can vary between PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will issue the CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. This document must be provided to tenants in four weeks after the test is completed. This document is a record that should be kept 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 for annual gas safety and service inspections. If a tenant refuses to admit access, the law states that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to complete the inspection. It could be necessary to write to the tenant, ask them to contact an engineer directly, and to make repeated requests for access. It can also include contact with the local council, who might be able to send an official letter to explain the necessity of granting access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If the tenant does not allow access to the property, the landlord could consider eviction. While this should be a last resort but it is legal right for the landlord to expel a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior making this decision because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues for tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublets the property to a third party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and anyone who has been assigned responsibilities by contract, must cooperate to ensure that the statutory requirements are met.
If a landlord has hired the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is important that they find out who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it's important to inquire with the agency in advance to ensure you are protected.
What is a gas safety certificate for sub-let?
If a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that it is safe for the people who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all gas appliances and flues within the property have been checked and deemed safe by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are conducted every year, and copies of the certificates are provided to tenants. The checks should be carried out by a registered 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 of the gas certificate within 28 working days following the completion of any checks. Similarly, the landlord must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants prior to their move in.
This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been rented out for a short period of time, like a student house or holiday home. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract in order to prevent any legal issues later on.
If a landlord discovers that their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, they must make the necessary repairs as soon as he can. This may involve disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installation. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must verify their identity by seeing their photo ID before completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are extremely strict and must be adhered to. If a landlord is found in violation of the rules and is prosecuted, they could be fined and face fines or even jail sentences.
Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord who needs to arrange an inspection for gas safety. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your home, carry out a full inspection and issue a CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are competitive and we offer an same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us the number or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas safety inspection?
If you rent out part or all of your home, it is your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety check. This includes checking the boiler and other gas appliances like flues and pipework, as well as the fixtures and fittings that make use of or exhaust gas.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home to ensure everything is safe and up-to date. They will test 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.
It's a good idea to provide your tenants with an original copy of the gas safety record after the inspection and check has been carried out. It should be given to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days, and to any new tenants prior to when they move into the property. You should keep the copy for yourself as well as any agents you employ.
Landlords are responsible for arranging and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to permit you to conduct the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This may include sending a clearly written letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the security checks will be. If gas safety certificate homeowner continues to refuse the request, you may want to consider initiating a Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't have to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll have to complete it. You can also be confident that we're there for you if you need to renew your policy or change any information.
For more information on our landlord insurance packages you can visit the Hometree website. You can also enroll for a free quote to learn more about the coverage and the cost you'll be paying. Our promise of no price increase means that you won't pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.