What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate Tools To Help You Manage Your Day-To-Day Life
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? It's crucial to know your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety. Landlords must adhere to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to your tenants. What is a gas safety certificate for landlords ? A landlord gas safety certificate is an official document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after carrying out a safety check. This document should contain all the details regarding the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that these items are in good order and to provide copies of the completed document to their tenants. All landlords are legally required to inspect their properties every 12 months and obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations require that landlords ensure they plan their inspections no more than one month before the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This helps them avoid any gaps in coverage and offer the most secure security 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 inspect the gas appliances and pipes in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are found to be dangerous the engineer will inform you on the correct repairs required to bring them up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the landlord in, the landlord may try to convince the tenant to let them in by sending them a letter that explains why the checks are necessary and what happens to them if they don't let them in. If this fails the landlord should think about initiating the eviction process by serving them with a Section 21 notice. You must provide your tenants a copy of a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of every check. This must be provided to existing tenants as well as to any new tenants before they move into the property. You must also keep the original record for a period of 2 years. What is a gas safety certification for tenants? Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are tested annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost of the test can range from PS60 to PS120, depending on the nature of the inspection. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, and it must be distributed to the 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 after the date of the first inspection, however it is advised to keep them online to minimize the amount of paper that is thrown away. Landlords also need to ensure that they can access the property to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. The law stipulates that if a tenant refuses access, the landlord has to take'reasonable measures' to gain entry and carry out the check. This may include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and reiterating requests for access. You can also contact the local council, who may be able send an official to explain why it's important to allow access for safety and maintenance checks. If a tenant still refuses to give access, the landlord should consider starting the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with security checks. This is a complex process, so landlords should consult a lawyer before taking such a step. The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for the tenants. This is true even if the property has been completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, however the original landlord and anyone who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements must work together, with clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the statutory requirements are met. If a landlord has hired the services of a managing agent to oversee their rental properties, it is crucial to find out who is responsible for arranging the gas safety tests. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it's worth checking with the agency in advance to ensure you are protected. What is a sub-let gas safety certificate? When a landlord rents out their property, they must make sure that it is safe for the residents who live there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas engineer. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are conducted every year, and copies of the certificates are given 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 issue. It is also legal for the landlord to give tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. The landlord must also give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in. There are exceptions to this rule however, if the property is used for short-term lets like holiday cottages for students or student housing. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract in order to avoid legal issues in the future. If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he must fix them as soon as possible. This may mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must make sure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to completing any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above the regulations regarding landlords and gas safety inspections are very strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found to be in breach of the rules, they may be charged which could result in penalties of fines or even jail time for the party who committed the offense. If gas safety certificates 're a landlord who needs to arrange a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform a full check and provide you with an CP12 certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we provide a same day service in the event of an emergency. Call us or visit our website for more details. What is an annual gas check? Legally, you are obliged to conduct an annual gas safety check each year, if you lease a part or all your home. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, such as pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases. Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and make sure that everything is safe and up-to date. They will test all gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also ensure that the gas is switched on and that the gas meter is charged up. After the inspection and inspection, it's a good idea to provide an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. It must be given to tenants in the period of 28 days and to new tenants prior to moving into. You should also keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use. Landlords are accountable for arranging and paying for gas safety tests and certificates for their properties. However, if tenants refuse to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain entry. This may include sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant does not allow you access, you may be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction. When you purchase an insurance policy for your landlord with Hometree the annual gas safety check is included. That means you don't have to schedule it separately or think about when you'll have to do it. You can be assured that our team will be there to assist you should you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy. Visit the Hometree site for more information on our landlord insurance packages. 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 hikes means that you will not pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.