A Guide To What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate From Beginning To End
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord, it's crucial to know your obligations when it comes to the safety of gas at your property. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Gas Safe registered engineers must examine your flues and appliances at least once a year. You must also give the gas safety record to each tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a legal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property after conducting a safety audit. It should contain all of the details about the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that are inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these things are in good functioning order and give their tenants copies of the completed form.
All landlords are legally required 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 before expiration of the current certificate. This allows them to prevent any coverage gaps and ensure the best protection to 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 inspect the gas appliances and pipes within the property. The engineer will also test each appliance's emergency controls. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow the landlord to in, the landlord may attempt to persuade them by delivering a letter that explains why the checks are necessary and what happens to them if they do not let them in. If this fails the landlord could decide to start the eviction process by serving a Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to give your tenants a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is that is carried out. This must be provided to existing tenants as well as to new tenants prior to their move into the property. You should also keep the original document for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are tested annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost could range from PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the inspection. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be distributed to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. This document is a record and should be stored by the landlord two years following the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to keep them online to reduce waste.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property in order to conduct the annual service and gas security inspections. If a tenant does not allow access, the law says that the landlord must take all reasonable steps' to gain access to carry out the check. It may be necessary to write to the tenant, asking them to contact an engineer directly, and to make repeated requests for entry. It can also include contacting the local council who might be able to send an official circular to explain the necessity of granting access for safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to give access, the landlord should consider starting the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. This is a complex process, so landlords must consult with a lawyer prior to making a decision.
The landlord is required to supply gas appliances, pipes and flues for tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublets the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone who is obligated by contract, should collaborate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
It is essential to find out whether a landlord has employed a managing agent for their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for arranging gas safety tests. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it is important to inquire with the agency ahead of time to ensure that you are covered.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-letting?
When a landlord rents out their property, they must ensure that it is safe for the people living there. Gas safety certificates are proof that all gas appliances and flues have been examined by a licensed engineer and found to be safe. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are carried out each year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to tenants. The checks must be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must include the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of issue.
It is also a legal requirement that the landlord hand the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. Similarly, the landlord must provide a copy CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into.
There are some exceptions to this rule however, when the property is used for short-term rentals such as student housing or holiday cottages. It's an ideal idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy contract, since it can save you a lot of stress and potential legal issues in the future.
If a landlord finds that their flues or appliances do not meet safety standards during an inspection, he must make the necessary repairs as soon as he can. This could mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installation. Landlords are accountable for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must check their identity by seeing their photocard before carrying out any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are strict and must also be adhered to. If a landlord is found to be in violation of the rules, they may be charged, which can result in fines and even jail sentences for the offending party.
If you're a landlord who needs to arrange a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your home, carry out a full inspection, and issue you with an CP12 gas safety certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
If you lease out a part or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety check. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including pipework, flues, and fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases.
A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure everything is up to date and safe. They will test the gas appliances and flues and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas supply is turned on and the gas meter has money on it.
It is a good idea to provide your tenants with an original copy of the gas safety record after the inspection and test was carried out. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days and to any new tenants before they move in. You should keep the copy for yourself as well as any agents you use.
Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. If a tenant refuses access to allow the inspection or maintenance work to be carried out it is your responsibility to take'reasonable steps' to gain access. This could mean writing a strong letter explaining why you need access to the property and what the security checks will entail. If the tenant is still refusing to allow access, you could consider launching the Section 21 eviction process.
Your annual gas safety check is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. This means that you don't need to schedule it separately or think about when you'll have to do it. You can be assured that our team will be there to help you if you need to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information about our insurance plans for landlords, please visit the Hometree website. Request landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service to learn more about the coverage and costs. Our promise of no price hike guarantees that your annual premium won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.