What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it's important to understand your obligations when it comes to the safety of gas in your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
gas safety certificate homeowner must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected every year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide an original copy of your gas safety record to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate is an official document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety inspection. This document should contain all the information regarding the gas pipework of the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good condition and to give copies of the completed form to their tenants.
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 landlords to plan their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This helps them avoid any gaps in coverage and provide the best protection for their tenants.
To obtain a landlord's gas safety certificate An engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will conduct an inspection of all of the gas appliances and installation pipework within the property. Additionally, the engineer will also test the emergency controls for each appliance. If any appliances are found to be dangerous the engineer will inform you on the correct work needed in order to bring them back up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate.
If the tenant is unwilling to let the landlord in, the landlord could try to convince them by delivering a letter that explains the reason for the checks and what happens to them if they don't let them in. If this fails the landlord might think about initiating the eviction process by serving the tenant with a Section 21 notice.
As landlord, you are required to provide your tenants with a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the date each check is being carried out. The record should be provided to both existing tenants and any new tenants, before they move in. It is also necessary to keep the original document for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are regularly tested by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost of the test can range from PS60 to PS120 based on the scope of the check. The engineer will provide the CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. The document must be given to the tenants within four weeks after the test has been completed. The document is a record of the checks and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the first inspection, but it is recommended to store them online to reduce the amount of paper used.
Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual service and gas safety inspections. If a tenant is unwilling to permit access, the law says that the landlord must take all 'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the check. It may be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, asking them to contact an engineer directly, and to make repeated requests for access. This could also mean contact with the local council, who may be able to send an official circular to explain the necessity of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access, the landlord should consider beginning the process of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to remove tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. This can be a difficult process, so landlords must consult a lawyer before making a decision.
The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues to tenants. This applies regardless of whether the property is entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties. However, the original landlord and any other person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements must work together, with clear division of duties, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.
If a landlord has employed the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is crucial to know who is in charge of conducting the gas safety tests. Some agents will take on this responsibility, but you should check with the agency to confirm that you are protected.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-letting?
If a landlord leases their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for those living there. A gas safety certificate proves that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas engineer. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they get their gas safety checks done each year, and to ensure that copies are given to the tenants who reside there. The checks must be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must include the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of the issue.
It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide the tenants a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any inspections being completed. In the same way, landlords must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in.
This rule is not applicable if the property has been rented out for a short period of time, like an apartment for students or a holiday home. It is a good idea to include the 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 determines that any of their appliances or flues aren't safe during the course of an inspection they must arrange for them to be repaired as soon as they can. This may involve disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must make sure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity using their photo card prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions discussed above, the regulations around gas safety checks for landlords are very strict and must be complied with. If a landlord is found to not comply with the regulations they could be prosecuted, which can result in fines and even jail sentences for the person who is in breach.
Total Landlord is here to help if you are a landlord and need 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. We offer competitive prices and same-day service in the event of an emergency. Call us or visit our website for more details.
What is an annual check-up on gas?
You are legally accountable for an annual gas safety check each year if you lease out some or all of your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances, including flues and pipework, and any fittings and fixtures that make use of or exhaust gas.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and make sure that all is in good order and up-to-date. landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service will examine the gas appliances and flues, and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas is turned on and that the gas meter is filled up.
After the inspection and check, it's a great idea to give the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days and to any new tenants before they move in. You should also keep a copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use.
Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to allow you to carry out the maintenance or inspection, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could include sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what security checks will entail. If the tenant is still refusing 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 in a separate manner, or when you will need to do it. You can be confident that our team will be available to assist you should you need to update your policy details or renew your policy.
Visit the Hometree site for more information about our landlord insurance plans. You can also enroll for a free quote to learn more about the coverage and how much you'll have to pay. Our promise of no price hike guarantees that your annual premium will not increase more than the rate of inflation for the first year.