What Is What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate And Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? If you're a landlord it's important to understand your obligations when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords. Gas Safe registered engineers must examine your flues and appliances regularly on site. You must also provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants. What is a landlord gas safety certificate? A landlord gas safety certificate is a legal document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after carrying out a safety check. The document should contain all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these items are in good working order and that they give their tenants copies of the completed document. The law requires that all landlords have their properties examined and obtain a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require that landlords schedule their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapse in coverage and provides the best possible protection for their tenants. To obtain a landlord's Gas Safety certificate, an engineer registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will inspect all gas appliances and pipework within the property. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will inform you on the correct repairs required to bring them up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certificate. If the tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord could attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to let them in by writing a strong letter explaining why they need the checks to be completed and what happens in the event they refuse to allow them access. If this isn't working, the landlord may think about initiating the eviction process by delivering a Section 21 notice. As landlord, you are required to give your tenants a copy of your completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check being carried out. This should be given to existing tenants as well as any new tenants, prior to the time they move into your property. In gas safety certificates , you should also keep a copy of the lease for two years. What is a gas safety certification for tenants? Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly tested by an Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost could range from PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the test. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection, and it must be passed on to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. This document serves as a record of the checks 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 help reduce the amount of paper waste. Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property for annual gas safety and service checks. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord must use reasonable measures to gain access and complete the inspection. It is possible to write to the tenant and ask them to contact an engineer directly and to repeat requests for access. You can also contact your local council, who might be able send an official to explain why it is essential to allow access for safety and maintenance inspections. If the tenant refuses to let access in and the landlord is considering eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to expel tenants who do not cooperate with security checks. This can be a difficult process, so landlords should consult a lawyer before making a decision. The landlord is responsible for all gas pipes as well as flues, appliances and appliances that they own and offer for use by the tenants. This is true even if the property is wholly or partly sub-let by the landlord to third parties, however 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 statutory requirements are met. It is crucial 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. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it's worth checking with the agency prior to your visit to ensure you are fully protected. What is a sub-let gas safety certificate? When a landlord rents their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for the residents who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified engineer and are deemed safe. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are performed every year, and copies of the certificates are provided to the tenants. The checks must be performed by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number and date of the issue. The landlord is also required to give tenants a copy the gas certificate within 28 days after the completion of any checks. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move into. This rule is not applicable if the property has been let out for a brief period of time, like the student house or holiday cottage. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract in order to avoid legal issues in the future. If a landlord finds that any of their flues or appliances aren't safe during the course of an inspection they should make arrangements for them to be repaired as soon as they can. This could involve disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must make sure that their gas engineers have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to carrying out any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above the rules for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are strict and must also be adhered to. If the landlord is found be in violation of the rules, they could be prosecuted, which can result in penalties of fines or even jail time for the person who is in breach. Total Landlord is here to assist you if you're a landlord that needs to arrange an inspection of gas safety. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your home and carry out a thorough inspection and provide you with the CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are affordable and we provide an same-day service in the event of an emergency. Contact us or visit our site for more details. What is an annual check-up on gas? If you rent out part or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety test. This includes checking the boiler and other gas appliances like flues and pipework, as well as any fixtures and fittings which make use of or exhaust gas. A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is current 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 charged up. After the inspection and check, it's a great idea to give a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be given to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to tenants who are new before moving into. Keep a copy for yourself and any agents you employ. Landlords are accountable for arranging and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. If the tenant refuses to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain entry. This may include writing a strong letter stating why you require access to the property and what the security checks will be. If the tenant is still refusing, you can consider starting a Section 21 eviction process. The annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't have to worry about scheduling it separately or when you'll need to do it. You can also rest assured that we're there for you in the event that you have to renew your insurance or change any information. Visit the Hometree site to find out more about our landlord insurance plans. You can also sign up for a no-cost quote to learn more about the packages and how much you'll have to pay. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you will not pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.