What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? If you're a landlord it is important to know your responsibilities in relation to the gas safety of your property. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998 are mandatory for landlords. You must arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be examined every year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You should also provide a copy of your gas safety certificate to each tenant. What is a landlord gas safety certificate? Gas Safe registered engineers issue an official gas safety certificate for landlords to the owner following an inspection for safety. It should contain all the details about the property's gas pipework, flues, and appliances that are checked for safety. Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good working order and to give copies of the document to their tenants. The law requires that all landlords have their properties checked and receive an updated gas safety certificate every 12 months. The regulations require that landlords schedule their inspections at least one month prior to expiration of the current certificate. This helps them avoid any lapses in coverage and offer the most secure security for their tenants. To obtain a gas safety certificate for your landlord You will need to get an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. This engineer will carry out an examination of all gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency control. If any of the appliances are deemed to be dangerous, the engineer will advise you on the correct work needed in order 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 could try to convince them by sending a strongly worded letter outlining why they require the checks done and what happens in the event they refuse to allow them access. If this fails the landlord could consider starting the eviction by delivering an Section 21 notice. It is mandatory to provide your tenants with an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days following each check. This should be given to all tenants, including 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 certification for tenants? In general, landlords are accountable to ensure that all gas appliances in their properties are checked annually by a Gas Safe certified engineer. This is a legal requirement, and the costs can vary between PS60-PS120 depending on what's included in the check. The engineer will issue a CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. This document must be given to the tenants in four weeks after the test is completed. The document is a record that must be kept by the landlord two years following the date of the first inspection. It's recommended to store them online in order to reduce waste. Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to conduct the annual gas and service safety checks. The law stipulates that if tenants refuse access, the landlord has to take'reasonable measures' to gain entry and complete the inspection. This may include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and reiterating requests for access. You may also contact the local council, who might be able send an official to explain why it is essential to allow access for safety and maintenance inspections. If the tenant is unwilling to allow access and the landlord is considering eviction. While this should be considered a last resort but it is legal right for the landlord to expel a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential safety checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior to making this decision because it could be a complicated process. The landlord is required to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues to tenants. This is true even if a landlord sublets the property to an outside party. However the landlord who was the original tenant, and anyone who is obligated through a contract, must collaborate to ensure that the requirements of the law are met. If a landlord has hired the services of an agent managing their rental properties, it is important to know who is in charge of arranging the gas safety tests. Some agents are responsible for this, but it is worth checking with the agency prior to your visit to be certain that you are fully covered. What is a sub-let gas safety certificate? When a landlord rents their property, they must ensure that it is safe for the residents who reside there. A gas safety certificate shows that all the gas appliances and flues that are in the property have been tested and deemed to be safe by an experienced gas engineer. It's the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they get their gas safety checks done each year, and to ensure that copies are handed over to the tenants who reside there. The checks must be conducted by a registered Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and a date of the issue. It is also an obligation of law for landlords to provide the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any tests being completed. The landlord must also give new tenants a copy the CP12 form before they move into the property. This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief period of time, like a student house or holiday cottage. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy contract to prevent any legal issues later on. If a landlord determines that their flues or appliances are unsafe during the process of an inspection, they must make arrangements for them to be repaired as soon as is possible. This could mean disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords should 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 rules for gas safety inspections for landlords and landlords are very strict and must be followed. If a landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted and could face fines and even jail sentences for the party who committed the offense. Total Landlord is here to help if you are a landlord and need to arrange an inspection for gas safety. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out a full check and provide you with the CP12 certificate. We provide competitive prices and same-day service for emergency situations. Contact us or visit our website today to learn more. What is an annual check-up on gas? If you lease out a part 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, such as pipework, flues, and fittings and fixtures that use or exhaust gases. Gas Safe engineers will inspect your home to ensure everything is safe and up-to-date. They will test all gas appliances and flues and look for signs of leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. They will also ensure that the gas is turned on and that the gas meter is filled up. After the inspection and the examination, it's a good idea to give the completed gas safety report to your tenants. It should be handed out to existing tenants within 28-days and to new tenants before moving into. It is also recommended to keep an original copy of the gas safety record for yourself and any agents you employ. Landlords are accountable for arranging and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. If the tenant refuses to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain access. You could send a letter explaining the reason you have to gain access to the property and the safety inspections that are required. If how long does a gas safety certificate last is still refusing the request, you may want to consider initiating a Section 21 eviction process. When you purchase an insurance policy for landlords with Hometree the annual gas safety check is included. This means that you don't need to schedule it separately or think about when you'll have to do it. You can also be assured that we're here for you in the event that you have to renew your policy or alter any information. For more information on our insurance for landlords check out the Hometree website. You can also enroll for a free quote to find out more about the coverage and the cost you'll be paying. Our no price hike promise means that your annual cost will not rise more than the rate of inflation for the first year.
how long does a gas safety certificate last
