What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?

It's important that you understand your obligations as landlords when it comes to gas safety. Landlords are required to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Gas Safe registered engineers must check your appliances and flues on site annually. Also, you must give a copy of your gas safety record to your tenants.

What is a gas safety certification for landlords?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is a formal document that an Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of a property following conducting a safety audit. The document should include all the information regarding the gas pipework in the property and appliances that have been tested for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that the appliances and pipes are in good working order and to give copies of the document to their tenants.

All landlords are required by law to inspect their properties every 12 months, and to obtain an updated certificate of gas safety. However, the regulations also require landlords to schedule their inspections not later than one month before the current certificate is due to expire. This helps them avoid any coverage gaps and offer the most secure protection to their tenants.

To get a landlord gas safety certificate You will need to get an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will perform a full inspection of all gas appliances and installation pipework in the property. In addition the engineer will examine the emergency controls of each appliance. If any appliances are deemed to be dangerous, the engineer will advise you on the correct work required to bring them back up to standard and issue an updated gas safety certification.

If a tenant is refusing permit access to the inspection, the landlord may attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection by sending a strongly worded letter explaining why they need the inspections to be conducted and what would happen should they refuse to allow them access. If this fails the landlord should look into initiating the eviction process by serving them with the 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 every check. This should be provided to current tenants, as well as any new tenants prior to when they move in. In addition, you should keep a copy the record for two years.

What is a tenant gas safety certificate?

Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances in their homes are regularly tested by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The cost of the test can vary from PS60 to PS120, depending on the scope of the inspection. The engineer will provide an CP12 to the landlord after the inspection. The document must be given to the tenants in four weeks after the test is completed. This document is an official record of the tests and should be kept by the landlord for two years following the date of the first inspection, but it is recommended to store them online to reduce 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 security inspections. The law states that if tenants refuse access, the landlord must adopt reasonable measures to gain access and complete the inspection. This can include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and then reiterating requests for access. You can also contact the local council, who may be able to send an official to explain why it is essential to allow access for maintenance and safety inspections.

If a tenant continues to refuse to allow access, the landlord should consider initiating the process of expulsion. While this should be a last resort however, it is a legal right for a landlord to expel a tenant who refuses to cooperate with security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice prior taking this step as it may be difficult.

The landlord is responsible to provide gas appliances, pipework and flues for tenants. This applies even if the property has been entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties. However, the original landlord and any other person who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements should work together, with an explicit allocation of responsibilities to ensure that the statutory requirements are fully met.

It is crucial to determine whether a landlord has hired an agent managing their rental properties. They should also ask who is responsible for arranging gas safety tests. Certain agents will be responsible for this, but it is important to inquire with the agency ahead of time to be certain that you are covered.

What is a gas safety certification for sub-let?

When a landlord rents their property, they must ensure that it is safe for the people who live there. Gas safety certificates are proof that all gas appliances and flues have been examined by a licensed engineer and found to be safe. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they have their gas safety checks completed every year and that copies are passed onto the tenants who reside there. The checks must be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe engineer, and the CP12 form should include their ID number and date of the issue.

The landlord is also required to give the tenants the copy of the gas certificate within 28 days following the completion of any checks. The landlord must also give any new tenants a copy of the CP12 form prior to moving into the property.

This rule is not applicable when the property is rented out for a short period of time, like an apartment for students or a holiday cottage. Include these exemptions in the terms of your tenancy agreement to prevent any legal issues later on.

If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues aren't safe during the course of an inspection, they should arrange to have them fixed as soon as possible. This could mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must make sure that their gas engineers are registered with Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with their photocard prior to performing any work.

Despite the exemptions discussed above, the regulations around landlords and gas safety checks are strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found to be in violation of the regulations, they could be prosecuted and face fines or even prison sentences.

Total Landlord is here to help you if you're a landlord who needs to arrange an inspection for gas safety. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to carry out a full check and issue a CP12 certificate. We offer competitive prices and same-day service for emergency situations. For more information, give us a a call or visit our website today.

What is an annual gas safety inspection?

You are legally responsible for an annual gas safety check each year if you lease out some or all of your home. This includes checking your boiler and any other gas appliances, which includes flues, pipework and any 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 examine the gas appliances and flues and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas is turned on and that the gas meter is topped up.

It's a good idea to give your tenants copies of the completed gas safety report after the inspection and verification has been carried out. It must be provided to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to new tenants prior to moving into. You should keep a copy for yourself and any agents that you use.

Landlords have to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and inspections for their properties. If the tenant refuses to allow the check or maintenance work to be carried out, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain access. This could include sending a clearly written letter explaining why you need access to the property and what the safety checks will involve. If the tenant does not let you in, you may want to consider an Section 21 eviction.

Your annual gas safety inspection is included in your Hometree landlord insurance policy. You don't have to worry about scheduling it separately or when you'll have to do it. You can be confident that our team will be available to assist you if you're looking to update your policy details or renew your policy.

For more information about our landlord insurance packages you can visit the Hometree website. Register for an estimate to learn more about the coverage and costs. Our promise of no price hike means that your annual cost will not rise more than the rate of inflation for the first year.