What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? If you're a landlord, it's important to understand your responsibilities in relation to the safety of gas at your property. Landlords must comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You must arrange for your on-site appliances and flues to be inspected each year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Also, you must provide the gas safety certificate to every tenant. What is a gas safety certificate for landlords? A gas safety certificate for a landlord is a formal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety audit. This should include all of the details about the property's gas pipework, flues and appliances that are inspected for safety. Landlords are legally accountable to ensure that all these items are in good operating order and to provide their tenants with copies of the document they have completed. The law requires that all landlords have their properties inspected and get a new gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require that landlords plan their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of their current certificate. This allows them to avoid any coverage lapse 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. This engineer will inspect all gas appliances and pipework within the property. The engineer will also test each appliance's emergency controls. If any of the appliances are deemed to be hazardous the engineer will inform you on the correct work needed in order to bring them back up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certificate. If the tenant is unwilling to allow the landlord to in, the landlord may try to convince them by delivering an email that explains the reason for the checks and what happens to them if they don't let them in. If this doesn't work, the landlord may consider starting the eviction by delivering the tenant with a Section 21 notice. As an owner, you must provide your tenants with a copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record within 28 days of every check being carried out. This should be given to all tenants, including any new tenants, prior to the time they move in. Additionally, you must keep a copy of the lease for two years. What is a gas safety certificate for tenants? Generally speaking, landlords should ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly tested by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost can vary from PS60 to PS120, depending on the nature of the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be handed over to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. The document is a record and must be kept by the landlord for two years after the date of the initial inspection. It is recommended to keep them online to reduce waste. Landlords should also ensure that they have access to the property to carry out the annual service and gas safety inspections. If a tenant does not allow access, the law states that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to gain entry to complete the check. This can include writing to them, requesting them to contact the engineer directly, and repeating requests for access. It could also involve contact with the local council, who may be able send an official circular to explain the importance of granting access for safety and maintenance checks. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the property, the landlord could consider the possibility of eviction. It is the landlord's legal right to expel tenants who refuse to cooperate with safety checks. This is a complex process, so landlords must consult a lawyer before making a decision. The landlord is accountable to provide gas appliances, pipes and flues for tenants. This is the case even if a landlord sublets the property to a third party. However, the original landlord, and anyone who is obligated through a contract, must work together to ensure the statutory requirements are met. It is important to determine if a landlord has hired an agent to manage their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for arranging gas safety tests. Certain agents will be able to take on this responsibility, but you should consult with the agency to confirm that you are protected. What is a gas safety certificate for sub-letting? When a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that it is safe for those who reside there. A gas safety certificate is proof that all gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been inspected and deemed safe by an experienced 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 should be carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of the issue. It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. Similarly, the landlord must give a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move into. There are exceptions to this policy but only when the property is used for short-term leases like holiday cottages for students or student housing. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract to prevent any legal issues later on. If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues do not meet safety standards during an inspection, he should make the necessary repairs in the shortest time possible. This may involve disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installation. gas safety certificate replacement must make sure that their gas engineers have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to completing any work. Despite the exemptions discussed above, the regulations around gas safety checks for landlords are extremely strict and must be complied with. If the landlord is found be in violation of the regulations they could be prosecuted, which can result in fines and even jail sentences for the party who committed the offense. If you're a landlord and need to arrange a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out an entire inspection and provide you with a CP12 certificate. Our prices are affordable and we can provide an same-day service in the event of an emergency. Call us or visit our site for more details. What is an annual check-up on gas? You are legally responsible for an annual gas safety inspection every year if you rent out some or all of your home. This includes checking the boiler as well as other gas appliances including pipes and flues and the fixtures and fittings that utilize or exhaust gas. A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will examine the flues and gas appliances and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas supply is turned on and that the gas meter has money in it. After the inspection and examination, it's a good idea to provide an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. It must be given to existing tenants within 28-days and to new tenants before moving into. Keep a copy for yourself and any agents you employ. Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks 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 strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what security checks will be. If the tenant is unwilling to allow you access and you are not able to gain access, you might be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction. If you purchase a landlord insurance policy with Hometree the annual gas safety check is included. This means that you don't need to organize it on your own or worry about when you'll have to complete it. You can also be assured that we've got your back in the event that you have to renew your policy or amend any details. For more information on our insurance plans for landlords check out the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a no-cost quote to learn more about the packages and how much you'll have to pay. Our guarantee of no price hikes means that you won't pay more for your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.
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