These Are Myths And Facts Behind What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? If you're a property owner, it is important to know your responsibilities when it comes to the gas safety of your property. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide an original copy of your gas safety record to each tenant. What is a gas safety certificate? Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the property owner following an inspection for safety. This document should contain all information about the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that all of these things are in good functioning order and give their tenants copies of the completed form. The law requires that all landlords have their property examined and obtain an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require that landlords ensure they schedule their inspections not later than one month before the date on which their current certificate is due to expire. This allows them to prevent any gaps in coverage and offer the most secure protection for their tenants. To obtain a landlord gas safety certificate you must get a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will perform an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and installation pipes within the property. In addition the engineer will test the emergency control for each appliance. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance. If the tenant refuses to allow the landlord in, the landlord can try to persuade them by delivering an explanation in the letter of the reason for the checks and what will happen to them if they refuse to let them in. If this fails the landlord could decide to start the eviction process by serving an Section 21 notice. Your tenants must receive copies of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each check. This should be provided to existing tenants as well as to new tenants prior to their move into the property. In addition, you should also keep a copy of the document for a period of two years. What is a gas safety certificate 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. This is a legal requirement, and the cost can range from PS60 and PS120 depending on what's included in the test. The engineer will issue the CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection, which must be passed on to the tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. This document serves as an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years from 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 must also make sure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual service and gas safety checks. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord must use reasonable measures to gain access and complete the check. This could include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for entry. You may also contact the local council, who might be able to send an official to explain why it's crucial to allow access for maintenance and safety inspections. If a tenant is still refusing to allow access the landlord should think about beginning the process of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to evict tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. This is a complex process, so landlords must consult a lawyer before taking such a step. The landlord is responsible for all gas pipes as well as flues, appliances and appliances they own and supply to tenants. This is true even if a landlord sublets the property to a third party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and any other person who is obligated through a contract, must cooperate to ensure that compliance with the statutory requirements. It is important to determine whether a landlord has employed an agent to manage their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for organizing gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is worth checking with the agency ahead of time to ensure that you are fully protected. What is a sub-let gas safety certificate? If a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that it is safe for those who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been checked by a licensed engineer and are deemed safe. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they get their gas safety checks completed each year, and to ensure that copies are handed over to the tenants who reside 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 issue. It is also an obligation of law for the landlord to give tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. Similarly, they must give any new tenants a copy the CP12 form prior to moving into the property. This rule is not applicable when the property is let out for a brief period of time, like an apartment for students or a holiday cottage. It is an ideal idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy contract, since it can save you a lot of stress and legal issues in the future. If a landlord finds that their flues or appliances aren't safe during the process of an inspection, they should arrange for them to be repaired as soon as they can. This may require the disconnection and reconnecting of the gas supply. Landlords are accountable for ensuring that their gas engineers are Gas Safe registered, and must check their identity by looking at their photo ID before completing any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations governing gas safety checks for landlords are extremely strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found be in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted which could result in fines or even jail sentences for the party who committed the offense. Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord who needs to schedule a gas safety inspection. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out an entire inspection and issue the CP12 certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we offer a same day service in the event of an emergency. Contact us or visit our website today for more information. What is an annual check-up on gas? If you rent out part or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to conduct an annual gas safety test. This includes checking your boiler as well as any other gas appliances, including pipework, flues, and fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases. do homeowners need a gas safety certificate trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your property and make sure everything is up to date and safe. They will test the flues and gas appliances and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas supply is on and that the gas meter has money on it. It's a good idea to provide your tenants with copies of the completed gas safety record after the inspection and check has been carried out. The record must be handed out to tenants who are currently tenants within 28 days and to new tenants prior to they move into the property. Keep a copy for yourself and any agents you use. Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant refuses to allow you to carry out the maintenance or check, then you must take “reasonable steps” to gain access. This could include sending a clearly written letter explaining why you require access to the property and what the security checks will be. If the tenant still refuses the request, you may want to consider initiating an Section 21 eviction process. Your annual gas safety check is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. There's no need to fret about arranging it separately, or when you'll require it. You can rest assured that our team will be available to assist you if you want to change your policy information or renew your policy. Visit the Hometree site to find out more on our landlord insurance packages. You can also enroll for a free quote to find out more about the packages and how much you'll pay. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you won't pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.