What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your obligations as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be examined each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide the gas safety certificate to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certification for landlords?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a legal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety audit. This document should contain all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that all these items are in good functioning order and give their tenants copies of the completed document.
All landlords are required by law to inspect their properties every 12 months, and to obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations require that landlords ensure they schedule their inspections not later than one month prior to when the current certificate is due to expire. This allows them to prevent any gaps in coverage and provide the best protection to their tenants.
In order to obtain a landlord gas safety certificate you must make arrangements for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will examine all gas appliances and pipework in the property. In addition, the engineer will also examine the emergency controls of each appliance. If any appliances are found to be dangerous the engineer will advise you on the correct repair work needed in order to bring them up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certificate.
If a tenant is refusing to allow access for the inspection, the landlord could attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection by sending a strongly worded letter that explains why they should have the inspections to be conducted and what will happen in the event they refuse to let them in. If this isn't working, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by serving an Section 21 notice.
As a landlord, you must give your tenants a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check being carried out. This should be given to both existing tenants and any new tenants, before they move in. You must also keep the original document 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 within their property are inspected annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the costs can vary between PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the test. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, and it must be handed over to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. This document serves as an account of the inspections and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the first inspection, although it's recommended that they are stored online to help reduce the amount of the amount of paper that is thrown away.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual service and gas safety checks. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord must take'reasonable measures' to gain entry and complete the inspection. It may be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, ask them to contact an engineer directly and repeatedly request access. It could also involve contacting the local council who may be able send an official round to explain the necessity of granting access for safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse 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 do not cooperate with safety checks. This can be a complicated process, so landlords should consult with a lawyer prior to taking such a step.
The landlord is required to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues for tenants. This is true regardless of whether the property is entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and anyone who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements must collaborate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has enlisted the services of a managing agent to oversee their rental properties, it is important to find out who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Some agents will take on this responsibility, but it is important to inquire with the agency to make sure that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
When a landlord rents out their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for those who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been examined by a licensed engineer and are deemed safe. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety checks done each year, and to ensure that copies are passed onto the tenants who reside there. The checks should be carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of the issue.
The landlord must also give the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 days following the completion of any checks. Similarly, they must give any new tenants a copy the CP12 form before they move into the property.
There are exceptions to this policy however, in the case of a property being used for short-term leases like holiday cottages for students or student housing. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy agreement to avoid any future legal issues.
If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues aren't safe in the course of an inspection they must make arrangements for them to be repaired as soon as is possible. This may require the disconnection 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 photo ID before completing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the regulations for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are strict and must also be adhered to. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted and face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord and need to arrange a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property and conduct a thorough inspection and issue a CP12 gas safety certificate. We offer competitive prices and same-day service in the event of an emergency. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
You are legally accountable for an annual gas safety inspection every year if you rent out a part or all your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances like flues and pipework, and any fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gas.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and ensure that all is in good order and up-to-date. 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 turned on and that the gas meter has money in it.
After the inspection and inspection, it's a good idea to provide the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to new tenants prior to moving in. It is also recommended to keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use.
Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. However, if a tenant refuses access to allow the check or maintenance work to be completed, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain access. You could send an explanation in a letter of why you have to gain access to the property as well as the safety inspections that are required. If the tenant still refuses to allow access, you could consider launching an Section 21 eviction process.
The annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't need to worry about arranging it separately, or when you will require it. You can rest assured that our team will be available to assist you if you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy.
For more information about our insurance plans for landlords check out the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a free quote to learn more about the coverage and how much you'll have to pay. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you won't pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.