What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's important that you understand your obligations as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues at least once a year. You must also provide a copy gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue a landlord gas safety certification to the owner after an inspection to ensure safety. This document should contain all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been tested for safety. Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the items are in good condition and to provide copies of the completed form to their tenants.
All landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected every 12 months and obtain an annual 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 coverage gaps and ensure the best protection to their tenants.
To obtain a landlord's gas safety certificate An engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. This engineer will inspect all gas appliances and pipework in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. If any of the appliances are deemed to be dangerous, the engineer will advise you on the correct work required to bring them back up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.
If a tenant is refusing 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 allow them to enter. If this fails the landlord might consider starting the eviction by delivering an Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days after every check. The record should be provided to all tenants, including any new tenants prior to when they move into your property. In addition, you should keep a copy of the lease for two years.
What is a tenant gas safety certification?
In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances within their property are inspected annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the cost can range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be handed over to tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. The document is an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the first inspection, although it's recommended to store them online to reduce the amount of paper that is thrown away.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to conduct annual gas safety and service checks. If a tenant is unwilling to allow access, the law stipulates that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the check. This can include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for access. You can also contact the local council, who may be able to send an official to explain why it is important to allow access for safety and maintenance inspections.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access, the landlord should consider beginning the process of eviction. While this should be considered a last option, it is a legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. This is a complex process, so landlords must consult with a lawyer prior to taking such a step.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework, appliances and flues that they own and offer for use by the tenants. This applies regardless of whether the property is wholly or partly sub-let by the landlord to third parties. However, the original landlord and any person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements must work together, with an explicit allocation of responsibilities to ensure that the legal 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 ask who is responsible for arranging gas safety tests. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it is worth checking with the agency ahead of time to ensure you are fully protected.
What is do homeowners need a gas safety certificate for sub-letting?
When a landlord leases their property, they must make sure that the place is safe for the people who reside there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all gas appliances and flues within the property have been checked and deemed safe by an experienced gas engineer. 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 handed over to the tenants who live there. The checks should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must include the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of the issue.
The landlord must also give tenants a copy of the gas certificate within 28 working days after the completion of any checks. do homeowners need a gas safety certificate must also give any new tenants a copy the CP12 form before they move into the property.
There are exceptions to this policy however, if the property is used for short-term lets like student housing or holiday cottages. It would be an ideal idea to include details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement, as it could save you a lot of hassle and legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers 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 they can. This may involve disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords are responsible 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 rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are very strict and must be complied with. If the landlord is found to not comply with the regulations, 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 who needs to arrange for an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out a full check and provide you with a CP12 certificate. We provide competitive prices and 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?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including pipes, flues and fixtures and fittings 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 all gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure that the gas supply is on and that the gas meter is stocked with money in it.
After the inspection and the examination, it's a good idea to give the completed gas safety report to your tenants. The record must be handed out to any existing tenants within 28 days, and to any new tenants prior to when they move in. You should also keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. However, if the tenant refuses to allow the inspection or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain entry. This could mean sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what security checks will entail. If the tenant refuses to give you access, you may be considering an Section 21 eviction.
The annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. There's no need to fret about arranging it in a separate manner, or when you'll require it. You can be confident that our team will be there to assist you should you're looking to update your policy information or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree website for more details on our landlord insurance packages. Request an estimate to learn more about the coverage and costs. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you will not pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.