The Reasons What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate Is Tougher Than You Think
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? It is important to understand your obligations as a landlord with regards to gas safety. Landlords must comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues on site annually. You should also provide the gas safety certificate to every tenant. What is a landlord 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. This document should contain all information about the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good condition and to provide copies of the completed form to their tenants. All landlords are required by law to inspect their properties every 12 months, and to obtain an annual certificate of gas safety. The regulations require that landlords schedule their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of their current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapse in coverage and offers the most effective protection for their tenants. To obtain a landlord's gas safety certificate An engineer who is registered with Gas Safe will need to visit the property. The engineer will examine the gas appliances and pipes in the house. In addition the engineer will examine the emergency controls of each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance. If a tenant is refusing to allow access for the inspection, the landlord may try to convince them to allow access by sending a clearly written letter that explains why they should have the checks to be completed and what happens should they refuse to allow them access. If this isn't working the landlord could decide to start the eviction process by delivering 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 each check that is carried out. This should be provided to existing tenants as well as any new tenants prior to when they move in. In addition, you should also keep a copy of the lease for two years. What is a gas safety certificate for tenants? In general, landlords are responsible for ensuring that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly inspected by an Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the costs can vary between PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the inspection. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be passed on to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. The document is a proof of the inspection and must be kept by the landlord two years after the date of the first inspection. It's recommended to store them online to reduce the amount of waste. Landlords should also ensure that they have access to the property in order to conduct the annual service and gas safety inspections. The law states that if a tenant refuses access, the landlord must adopt reasonable measures to gain entry and carry out the inspection. This can include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for access. It could also involve contacting the local council who might be able to send an official letter to explain the importance of granting access to maintenance and safety checks. If the tenant refuses to let access in and the landlord is considering eviction. While this should be considered a last option, it is a legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice before taking this step as it can be complicated. The landlord is required to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for tenants. This is the case even if the landlord sublet the property to an outside party. However the original landlord and anyone who has been given duties by contract, should collaborate to ensure that the statutory requirements are met. It is important to determine whether a landlord has hired a managing agent for their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for scheduling gas safety tests. Some agents will assume responsibility for this, but it's worth checking with the agency in advance to ensure that you are covered. What is a gas safety certification for sub-letting? When a landlord rents their property, they must ensure that it is safe for those who reside there. A gas safety certificate proves that all gas appliances and flues in the property have been inspected and deemed safe by a qualified gas engineer. The landlord is responsible to ensure that gas safety checks are carried out every year, and that copies of the certificates are given to the tenants. The checks must be performed by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must include the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of the issue. It is also a legal requirement 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 new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to their move into the property. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, if the property is used for short-term rentals like holiday cottages or student housing. It is an ideal idea to include details of these exemptions in your tenancy contract, as it could save you a lot of trouble and legal issues in the future. If a landlord determines that any of their flues or appliances are unsafe during the course of an inspection, they must arrange to have them repaired as soon as is possible. This could mean disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installation. Landlords are responsible for making sure that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must verify their identity by examining their identification card prior to carrying out any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned earlier, the rules for landlords and gas safety inspections are strict and must also be followed. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations and is prosecuted, they could be fined and could face fines or even jail sentences. Total Landlord is here to assist you if you're a landlord that needs to schedule an inspection for gas safety. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property and carry out a thorough inspection and provide you with an CP12 gas safety certificate. gas safety certificate how often offer competitive prices and same-day service for emergencies. Contact us or visit our website today for more information. What is an annual gas check? Legally, you are responsible for an annual gas safety inspection every year if you lease out the entirety or a portion of your home. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, such as pipes, flues and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases. A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure everything is up to date and safe. They will test all 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 the inspection, it's a good idea to give the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out 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 must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. However, if tenants refuse to allow the check or maintenance work to be completed the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain entry. You could send a letter explaining the reason you require access to the property and the safety inspections that are required. If the tenant is unwilling to give you access and you are not able to gain access, you might think about the possibility of a Section 21 eviction. Your annual gas safety check is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't need to schedule it separately or worry about when you'll have to complete it. You can be assured that our team will be available to assist you should you need to update your policy details or renew your policy. For more information about our insurance for landlords you can visit the Hometree website. Sign up for a quote to learn more about the coverage and price. Our promise of no price hikes means that you will not pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.