What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a property owner, it's crucial to know your obligations when it comes to the safety of gas in your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords.
You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be checked each year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also give an original copy of your gas safety certificate to every tenant.
What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers issue a landlord gas safety certification to the property owner following an inspection for safety. The document should include all the details regarding the properties gas pipework and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these items are in good operating order and to give their tenants copies of the completed document.
All landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected every 12 months and obtain a new certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month before the certificate due to expire. This allows them to prevent any coverage gaps and ensure the best security for their tenants.
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. The engineer will perform an exhaustive inspection of all of the gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. The engineer will also test each appliance's emergency control. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will inform you on the correct repair work required to bring them up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate.
If a tenant is refusing allow access for the inspection, the landlord can attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to allow access by sending a clearly written letter explaining why they need the checks done and what happens if they don't let them in. If this isn't working the landlord might think about initiating the eviction process by delivering a Section 21 notice.
It is mandatory to provide your tenants with copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of every check. The record should be provided to existing tenants as well as any new tenants, prior to the time they move into the property. In addition, you must keep a copy the document for a period of two years.
What is a gas safety certificate for tenants?
In general, landlords are accountable for ensuring that all gas appliances in their property are inspected annually by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost of the test can range from PS60 to PS120 based on the scope of the inspection. The engineer will provide an CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. This document must be provided to tenants within four weeks after the test is completed. The document is an account of the inspections and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the first inspection, however it is recommended to store them online to reduce the amount of paper that is thrown away.
The landlords must also ensure that they have access to the property in order to carry out the annual gas and service safety inspections. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord has to adopt reasonable measures to gain access and complete the inspection. It could be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, asking them to contact an engineer directly and repeatedly request entry. This could also mean contacting the local council who may be able to send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance checks.
If a tenant continues to refuse to grant access the landlord should think about initiating the process of expulsion. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. This can be a difficult procedure, and landlords should consult a lawyer before taking this step.
The landlord is responsible for all gas pipework as well as flues, appliances and appliances that they own and offer to tenants. This is the case even if the landlord sublet the property to a third party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and any other person who has been assigned responsibilities by contract, must collaborate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
If a landlord has enlisted 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 assume this responsibility, however you must consult with the agency to make sure that you are protected.
What is a gas safety certificate for sub-let?
When a landlord rents out their property they need to ensure that the property is safe for the people living there. Gas safety certificates prove that all gas appliances and flues have been inspected by a qualified engineer and are deemed safe. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety checks completed every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who live there. The checks must be performed by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should contain their ID number as well as a date of the issue.
It is also legal that the landlord hand the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. Similarly, they must give new tenants a copy of the CP12 form prior to their move into the property.
This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been rented out for a short period of time, like an apartment for students or a holiday home. Include these exemptions as part of your tenancy agreement to prevent any legal issues later on.
If a landlord determines that any of their appliances or flues aren't safe in the course of an inspection they must arrange for them to be fixed as soon as possible. landlord gas safety certificate cost 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 a photo ID prior to performing any work.
Despite the exemptions discussed above, the rules governing landlords and gas safety checks are very strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted and could face fines or even jail sentences.
If you're a landlord and need to arrange for a gas safety check, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your home to conduct an extensive inspection and issue a CP12 certificate. We provide competitive prices and same-day service in the event of an emergency. Contact us or visit our site for more details.
What is an annual gas check?
If you lease out a portion or all of your home, it is your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety inspection. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, including pipes, flues and fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.
landlord gas safety certificate price trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure that everything is current and safe. 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 topped up.
After the inspection and inspection, it's a good idea to give an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. It should be given to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days, and to any new tenants prior to when they move into the property. You should keep a copy for yourself and any agents that you use.
Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If a tenant does not allow you to carry out the maintenance or check, then you must take "reasonable steps" to gain access. This could mean sending a clearly written letter stating why you require access to the property and what the security checks will entail. If the tenant continues to refuse to allow access, you could consider launching a Section 21 eviction process.
When you buy an insurance policy for your landlord through Hometree, your annual gas safety check is included. That means you don't need to arrange it separately or fret about when you'll need complete it. You can also be assured that we've got your back should you need to renew your policy or change any information.
Visit the Hometree website for more details about our landlord insurance plans. You can also enroll for a free quote to find out more about what's included and how much you'll pay. Our no price hike promise means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.