A Step-By-Step Guide To What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate From Beginning To End
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It's crucial to know your responsibilities as landlords when it comes to gas safety. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected annually by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also provide a copy gas safety certificate to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate for landlords?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue a landlord gas safety certification to the owner following a safety inspection. This document should contain all the details regarding the gas pipework of the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that all these things are in good operating order and to give their tenants copies of the completed form.
All landlords are legally required to inspect their properties every 12 months and to obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations also require that landlords ensure they schedule their inspections no later than one month before the certificate due to expire. This allows them to prevent any gaps in coverage and offer the most secure protection for their tenants.
To get a landlord gas safety certificate You will need to make arrangements for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will inspect all gas appliances and pipework within the property. Additionally, boiler service and gas safety certificate mkgassafety will also test the emergency control for each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord could try to persuade them to let them in by writing a strong letter outlining why they require the checks done and what will happen if they don't allow them access. If this doesn't work, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by serving the tenant with a Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to provide your tenants with an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is that is carried out. The record should be provided to all tenants, including any new tenants, before they move into the property. You should also keep the original document for a period of 2 years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost can range from PS60 to PS120 depending on the extent of the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection. This document must be distributed to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. The document is a record of the checks and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the first inspection, however it is recommended to store them online to reduce paper waste.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to conduct the annual service and gas security inspections. The law states that if a tenant refuses access, the landlord must use reasonable measures to gain entry and carry out the inspection. This could include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for entry. This could also mean calling the local council, who might be able to send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access to maintenance and safety checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to give access to the property, the landlord should think about initiating the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior to taking this step because it could be a complicated process.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipes, appliances and flues they own and supply to tenants. This is true even if the property has been entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any other person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements must cooperate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has hired the services of a managing agent to oversee their rental properties, it is essential that they find out who is responsible for arranging the gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is important to check with the agency prior to your visit to ensure that you are covered.
What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?
If a landlord leases their property, they have to make sure that the place is safe for the residents who reside there. A gas safety certificate shows that all gas appliances and flues within the property have been inspected and deemed to be safe by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are performed every year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to the tenants. The checks should be performed by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number and date of the issue.
The landlord must also provide the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 days following the conclusion of any checks. In the same way, landlords must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into.
There are exceptions to this policy but only when the property is used for short-term lets like holiday cottages or student housing. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract to avoid legal issues in the future.
If a landlord discovers that any of their flues or appliances are unsafe during the course of an inspection, they must arrange for them to be fixed as soon as possible. This could mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords as well as landlords are strict and must also be adhered to. 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 need to arrange an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out an extensive inspection and issue a CP12 certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas safety check?
Legally, you are obliged to conduct an annual gas safety check each year if you lease out a part or all your home. This includes checking the boiler and other gas appliances including flues and pipework, and any fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gas.
A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will test all the gas appliances and flues and look for signs of leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure that the gas is on and that the gas meter is topped up.
It's a good idea to give your tenants a copy of the completed gas safety record after the inspection and check was carried out. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28-days and to tenants who are new before moving in. You should also keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant refuses to let you carry out the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include sending a strongly worded letter stating why you require access to the property and what security checks will be. If the tenant does not give you access and you are not able to gain access, you might want to consider a Section 21 eviction.
Your annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't need to worry about scheduling it separately or when you will need to do it. You can also be confident that we've got your back in the event that you have to renew your policy or alter any information.
Visit the Hometree site for more information about our insurance for landlords. You can also enroll for a free quote to find out more about the coverage and the cost you'll be paying. Our guarantee of no price increases means that you won't pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.