What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
It is important to understand your obligations as a landlord with regards to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are required for landlords.
You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be examined each year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide a copy gas safety report to your tenants.
What is a gas safety certificate for landlords?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue the landlord with a gas safety certificate to the owner after an inspection to ensure safety. It should contain all of the information about the properties gas pipework, flues and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that these items are in good working order and to give copies of the document to their tenants.
The law requires that all landlords have their properties inspected and get a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of their current certificate. This will help them avoid any lapses in coverage and ensure the best protection to their tenants.
In order to obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord You will need to make arrangements for an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. landlord gas safety certificate cp12 will inspect all gas appliances and pipework within the property. Additionally the engineer will test the emergency control for each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency controls on each appliance.
If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord may try to persuade them to let them in by writing a strong letter that explains why they should have the checks to be completed and what happens if they don't allow them access. If this doesn't work the landlord may consider starting the eviction process by serving them with the Section 21 notice.
You must provide your tenants copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days following each inspection. The record should be given to current tenants, as well as new tenants prior to their move in. In addition, you should keep a copy of the record for two years.
What is a gas safety certification for tenants?
In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost can range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the check. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, and it must be passed on to the tenants within four weeks of the test being completed. This document is a proof of the inspection and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to store them online to reduce waste.
Landlords should also ensure that they have access to the property in order to carry out the annual gas and service safety checks. If a tenant is unwilling to allow access, the law states that the landlord must take all reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the inspection. It is possible to write to the tenant and asking them to contact an engineer directly, and to repeat requests for entry. You can also contact the local council, who may be able to send an official to explain why it is important to allow access for maintenance and safety checks.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow access and the landlord is considering the possibility of eviction. While this should be a last option however, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. This can be a difficult procedure, and landlords should consult a lawyer before making a decision.
The landlord is accountable for all gas pipes as well as flues, appliances and appliances they own and supply to tenants. This is true even if the landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and anyone else who has been assigned responsibilities by contract, should work together to ensure the requirements of the law are met.
If a landlord has employed the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is essential to find out who is responsible for organizing the gas safety test. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it is worth checking with the agency ahead of time to be certain that you are fully protected.
What is a sub-let gas safety certification?
If a landlord leases their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for the people who live there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all the gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been checked and deemed safe by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are conducted every year, and copies of the certificates are given to the tenants. The checks should be conducted by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form must include their ID number as well as a date of the issue.
It is also a legal requirement for landlords to provide tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any inspections being completed. In the same way, they must provide new tenants a copy of the CP12 form before they move into the property.
This rule is not applicable when the property is let for a short duration, such as a student house or holiday home. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy contract in order to avoid legal issues in the future.
If a landlord determines that their appliances or flues are unsafe during the course of an inspection, they should make arrangements for them to be fixed as soon as possible. This may require the disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must ensure that their gas engineers are registered with Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations around landlords and gas safety checks are extremely strict and must be adhered to. If the landlord is found not comply with the regulations they may be charged which could result in fines or even jail sentences for the offending party.
If you're a landlord who needs to arrange a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property, carry out a full inspection and issue an CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are affordable and we provide an same-day service for emergencies. For more information, give us a an email or call us on our website today.
What is an annual gas check?
Legally, you are obliged to conduct an annual gas safety inspection every year, if you lease some or all of your home. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, which includes pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home and ensure that everything is safe and up-to date. They will test all the gas appliances and flues and check for signs of leaking or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also make sure 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 prior to when they move in. You should also keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire.
Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to permit you to conduct the maintenance or check, you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. You could send an email explaining why you require access to the property and the safety inspections that are required. If the tenant refuses to let you in, you may want to consider a Section 21 eviction.
Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. There's no need to fret about scheduling it separately or when you'll have to do it. You can also be confident that we've got your back should you need to renew your policy or change any information.
For more information about our landlord insurance packages check out the Hometree website. Register for an estimate to find out more about the coverage and costs. Our promise of no price increases means that you will not pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate in the first year.