Ten Things Everyone Misunderstands About What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? If you're a landlord, it is important to know your responsibilities in relation to the safety of gas at your property. Landlords must adhere to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues on site annually. Also, you must provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants. What is a gas safety certificate? Gas Safe registered engineers issue the landlord with a gas safety certificate to the property owner following an inspection to ensure safety. The document should include all information about the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the items are in good working order and to give copies of the completed document to their tenants. All landlords are required by law to have their properties inspected every 12 months and to obtain a new certificate of gas safety. The regulations require that landlords schedule their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This will prevent any lapse in coverage and provides the best possible protection for their tenants. To get 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 exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and installation pipework within the property. In addition, the engineer will also examine the emergency controls of each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency controls for each appliance. If the tenant is unable to allow the landlord in, the landlord may try to persuade the tenant to let them in by sending them an email that explains the reason for the checks and what will happen to them if they refuse to allow them entry. If this doesn't work, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by serving an 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 the date each check is that is carried out. The record should be given to existing tenants as well as to new tenants prior to their move into the property. Additionally, you must also keep a copy of the document for a period of two years. What is a tenant gas safety certificate? In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost can vary from PS60 to PS120 based on the nature of the check. The engineer will issue an CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be given to the tenants in four weeks after the test is completed. The document is an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the first inspection, but it is recommended that they are stored online to reduce the amount of paper used. The landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property to conduct the annual gas and service security inspections. If a tenant does not allow access, the law says that the landlord must take all reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the check. It may be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, asking them to contact an engineer directly and to repeatedly request entry. It could also involve contact with the local council, who may be able send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance checks. If a tenant continues to refuse to give access the landlord should think about starting the process of eviction. While this should be considered a last option but it is legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this action as it may be difficult. The landlord is responsible to supply gas appliances, pipes and flues for the tenants. This is true even if the landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However, the original landlord, and anyone who has been given duties by contract, must collaborate to ensure that compliance with the statutory requirements. If a landlord has enlisted the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is important that they find out who is in charge of organizing the gas safety test. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it's worth checking with the agency in advance to ensure that you are protected. What is a sub-let gas safety certification? When a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for those who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been inspected and deemed to be safe by an accredited gas engineer. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are performed every year, and copies of the certificates are provided to the tenants. The checks must be performed by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number and a date of issue. The landlord must also give tenants a copy of the gas certificate within 28 days following the conclusion of any checks. In the same way, landlords must provide a copy CP12 to any new tenants prior to their move into. This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief duration, such as an apartment for students or a holiday home. It's a good idea to include details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement since it can save you a lot of trouble and legal issues in the future. If a landlord determines that their appliances or flues aren't safe during the course of an inspection they must arrange to have them repaired as soon as is possible. This may require the disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords must ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to completing any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above the regulations regarding gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are strict and must also be observed. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted and could be fined or even jail sentences. If you're a landlord and need to arrange a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform an entire inspection and issue the CP12 certificate. We provide competitive prices and same-day service for emergency situations. Contact us or visit our website today for more information. What is an annual gas safety check? If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it's your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, including pipes, flues and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases. Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and ensure that all is in good order and up-to-date. They will examine the gas appliances and flues and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. Click On this page will also ensure that the gas supply is working and that the gas meter has money in it. After the inspection and inspection, it's a good idea to provide a copy of your completed gas safety report to your tenants. It must be provided to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to new tenants prior to moving into. You should keep an original copy for yourself and any agents that you use. Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant does not permit you to conduct the maintenance or inspection, you must take “reasonable steps” to gain access. You can send a letter explaining the reason you require access to the property and the safety checks that must be conducted. If the tenant is unwilling to give you access, you may be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction. Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't need to worry about arranging it separately, or when you will need to do it. You can also be assured that we're there for you should you need to renew your policy or change any information. Visit the Hometree website for more details on our landlord insurance packages. You can also sign up for a free quote to find out more about the coverage and how much you'll pay. Our no-price hike guarantee means that your annual premium won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.