What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord, it's important to understand your responsibilities when it comes to the safety of gas at your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
Gas Safe registered engineers must examine your flues and appliances at least once a year. You should also provide a copy of your gas safety record to every tenant.
What is a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate for landlords is a formal document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety inspection. It should contain all of the information about the properties gas pipework, flues and appliances that are checked for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good working order and to send copies of the document to their tenants.
All landlords are required by law to inspect their properties every 12 months, and to obtain an annual certificate of gas safety. The regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections at least a month prior to the expiration of the current certificate. This helps them avoid any coverage gaps and offer the most secure protection to their tenants.
To obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord You will need to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will inspect all gas appliances and pipework in the house. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. gas safety certificate cp12 will also test the emergency controls for each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord can attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter that explains why they should have the checks to be completed and what would happen if they don't allow them to enter. If this fails, the landlord can then think about initiating the eviction process by serving them with the Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each inspection. The record should be given to existing tenants, as well as any new tenants before they move into the property. You should 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 in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement and the costs can vary between PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the check. The engineer will issue the CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. The CP12 is required to be handed out to tenants within four weeks after the test is completed. This document serves as an account of the inspections and should be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the initial inspection, but it is recommended that they are stored online to reduce the amount of paper that is thrown away.
Landlords also need to ensure that they have access to the property to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that if the tenant refuses access, the landlord must adopt reasonable measures to gain entry and carry out the check. It is possible to write to the tenant and request that they contact an engineer directly, and to make repeated requests for access. It could also involve contacting the local council who may be able send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.
If the tenant is unwilling to let access in, the landlord may consider the possibility of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to expel tenants who do not cooperate with security checks. This can be a complicated process, so landlords should consult a lawyer before taking this step.
The landlord is responsible to supply gas appliances, pipework and flues to tenants. This is the case regardless of whether the property is entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties. However, the original landlord and anyone who acquires duties through contractual arrangements should collaborate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the legal requirements are met.
If a landlord has employed the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is essential to know who is in charge of organizing the gas safety test. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it is important to check with the agency in advance to ensure that you are protected.
What is a gas safety certification for sub-let?
If a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for the people who live there. A gas safety certificate proves that all the gas appliances and flues within the property have been checked and deemed safe by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are conducted each year, and copies of the certificates are handed out to the tenants. 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.
It is also a legal requirement for landlords to provide the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. Similarly, the landlord must provide a copy CP12 to any new tenants before they move in.
This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief duration, such as a student house or holiday home. It's an ideal idea to include information about these exemptions in your tenancy contract, as it could save you a lot of trouble and legal complexities in the future.
If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues do not meet the safety standards of 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 should ensure that their gas engineers have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are extremely strict and must be observed. If the landlord is found be in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted which could result in fines or even jail sentences for the person who is in breach.
Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord that needs 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 the CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we can provide a same day service in the event of an emergency. For more information, give us a the number or visit our website today.
What is an annual gas check?
If you lease out a part or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety check. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including pipes, flues and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is current and safe. They will test 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 is stocked with money in it.
It is a good idea to provide your tenants with an original copy of the gas safety record after the inspection and verification was completed. It must be given to existing tenants within 28-days and to new tenants prior to moving into. Keep a copy for yourself and any agents you employ.
Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant refuses access to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain access. This could mean writing a strong letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant is unwilling to give you access then you might be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.
When you purchase an insurance policy for your landlord through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. This means that you don't need to arrange it separately or fret about when you'll need do it. You can rest 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 on our insurance for landlords, please visit the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a free quote to learn more about what's included and the cost you'll be paying. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.