10 Unexpected What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate Tips
What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? It's important that you understand your responsibilities as a landlord with regards to gas safety. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be examined every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide a copy of the gas safety report to your tenants. What is a gas safety certificate? Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the owner after a safety inspection. The document should contain all information about the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been checked for safety. Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that all these items are in good operating order and to give their tenants copies of the completed document. The law requires that all landlords have their property inspected and get an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. However, the regulations require landlords to 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 lapse in coverage and offers the most effective protection 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 examine every gas appliance and pipework in the house. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are found to be hazardous the engineer will advise you on the correct repairs needed in order to bring them back up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate . If the tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord may try to convince them by sending a strongly worded letter that explains why they should have the inspections to be conducted and what will happen in the event they refuse to let them in. If this doesn't work, the landlord may decide to start the eviction process by delivering a Section 21 notice. It is mandatory to provide your tenants with an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each check. This should be provided to current tenants as well as new tenants prior to their move into the property. In addition, you should keep a copy of the record for two years. What is a gas safety certificate for tenants? In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their property are inspected annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost could range from PS60 to PS120 depending on the nature of the inspection. The engineer will provide a CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. The CP12 must be provided to tenants within four weeks following the test has been completed. The document is an account of the inspections and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the initial inspection, although it's recommended that they are stored online to help reduce the amount of the amount of paper that is thrown away. Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to perform the annual gas safety and service inspections. If a tenant is unwilling to admit access, the law says that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to gain access to carry out the check. This can include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for entry. It could also involve contacting the local council who might be able to send an official round to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance checks. If the tenant does not let access in to the property, the landlord could consider the possibility of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to remove tenants who do not cooperate with safety checks. This can be a complicated procedure, and landlords should consult with a lawyer before making a decision. The landlord is required to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for the tenants. This is the case even if the property has been completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any other person who takes on the responsibility through contractual arrangements should work together, with clear division of duties, to ensure that the statutory requirements are fully met. It is essential to determine whether a landlord has hired an agent managing their rental properties. They should also inquire who is responsible for organizing gas safety tests. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it's worth checking with the agency in advance to ensure that you are protected. What is a gas safety certificate for sub-letting? When a landlord leases their property, they must make sure that the place is safe for those who reside there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been checked by a qualified engineer and deemed safe. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety inspections done every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who live there. The checks should be conducted by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and date of the issue. It is also legal for landlords to provide the tenants a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. In the same way, landlords must provide a copy CP12 to any new tenants prior to when they move into. There are some exceptions to this rule however, in the case of a property being used for short-term leases such as holiday cottages for students or student housing. It is recommended to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy contract, since it can save you a lot of hassle and legal complexities in the future. If a landlord discovers that any of their flues or appliances aren't safe during the process of an inspection, they should arrange for them to be repaired as soon as is possible. This could mean the removal and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must ensure that their gas technicians have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to performing any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above the regulations for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are extremely strict and must be adhered to. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations they could face prosecution which could result in penalties of fines or even jail time for the party who committed the offense. If you're a landlord who needs to arrange an inspection of your gas safety, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out a full check and issue a CP12 certificate. We offer competitive rates and same-day service for emergency situations. Contact us or visit our website today for more information. What is an annual gas safety check? If you lease out a part or all of your home, it's your legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety test. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, which includes pipework, flues, and fixtures and fittings that use or exhaust gases. A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is up-to-date 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 supply is working and the gas meter has money on it. After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to give 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 tenants who are new before moving in. Keep landlord gas safety certificate cp12 of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you hire. Landlords must arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If a tenant is unwilling to let you carry out the maintenance or check, you must take “reasonable steps” to gain access. This could include sending a clearly written letter stating why you require access to the property and what safety checks will involve. If the tenant still refuses to allow access, you could consider launching the 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 in a separate manner, or when you will require it. You can be assured that our team will be available to assist you should you want to update your policy details or renew your policy. For more information on our insurance for landlords check out the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a free quote to find out more about the coverage and how much you'll pay. Our promise of no price increases means that you will not pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate for the first year.