What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?

If you're a landlord it's important to understand your responsibilities in relation to the gas safety of your property. Landlords must comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Gas Safe registered engineers must inspect your flues and appliances on site annually. You should also provide a copy gas safety record to your tenants.

What is a landlord gas safety certificate?

A gas safety certificate for landlords is an official document that a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety inspection. It should contain all the information regarding the property's gas pipework, flues, and appliances that are inspected for safety. Landlords are legally responsible to ensure that these items are in good working order and to provide copies of the completed document to their tenants.

The law requires that all landlords have their property checked and receive a new 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 gaps in coverage and offer the most secure protection to their tenants.

In order to obtain a landlord gas safety certificate, you will need to get an Gas Safe registered engineer to visit the property. The engineer will inspect the gas appliances and pipes in the house. The engineer will also test the appliance's emergency controls. If any appliances are found to be dangerous the engineer will inform you on the correct work required to bring them back up to standard and issue a new gas safety certificate.

If the tenant refuses to allow the landlord in, the landlord may attempt to persuade them by delivering an explanation in the letter of why the checks are necessary and what happens to them if they refuse to let them in. If this doesn't work the landlord might consider starting the eviction by serving a Section 21 notice.

Your tenants must receive an original copy of the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record, within 28 days of each check. It should be handed out to both existing tenants and any new tenants prior to when they move into the property. You must also keep the original records for two years.

What is a tenant gas safety certificate?

In general, landlords are responsible to ensure that all gas appliances within their homes are regularly inspected by an Gas Safe certified engineer. The cost can vary from PS60 to PS120 based on the scope of the test. The engineer will issue an CP12 to the landlord following the inspection. This document is required to be handed out to tenants in four weeks after the test has been completed. This document serves as a record of the checks and should be kept by the landlord for two years from the date of the first inspection, although it's recommended to store them online to reduce the amount of paper that is thrown away.

Landlords should also ensure that they have access to the property to conduct the annual gas and service safety inspections. The law stipulates that in the event the tenant refuses access, the landlord has to adopt reasonable measures to gain access and complete the inspection. It could be necessary to contact the tenant in writing, request that they contact an engineer directly, and to repeatedly request entry. This could also mean contact with the local council, who may be able send an official round to explain the necessity of granting access for maintenance and safety checks.

If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the property, the landlord gas safety certificates could consider the possibility of eviction. While this should be a last resort however, it is a legal right for a landlord to evict a tenant who refuses to cooperate with essential security checks. Landlords should seek legal advice before taking this action as it can be complicated.

The landlord is responsible for all gas pipes, appliances and flues that they own and provide for use by the tenants. This is the case regardless of whether the property is entirely or partially sublet by the landlord to third parties, although the original landlord and any person who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements must collaborate, with a clear allocation of responsibilities, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met.

It is crucial to find out whether a landlord has employed a managing agent for 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 worth checking with the agency prior to your visit to be certain that you are protected.

What is a sub-let gas safety certificate?

When a landlord rents out their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for the residents living there. Gas safety certificates prove that all gas appliances and flues have been checked by a certified engineer and are deemed safe. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that they receive their gas safety checks completed each year and that copies are handed over to the tenants who live there. The checks must be conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and the date of the issue.

It is also an obligation of law for the landlord to give the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. The landlord must also give new tenants a copy of the CP12 form prior to their move into the property.

This rule is not applicable in the case of a property that has been let out for a brief duration, such as the student house or holiday cottage. It would be recommended to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement as it could save you a lot of stress and potential legal issues in the future.

If a landlord finds that their appliances or flues are not in compliance with safety standards during an inspection, he must repair them as soon as possible. This may mean disconnection and reconnection of the gas supply. Landlords must ensure that their gas engineers are registered with Gas Safe registration and verify their identity with a photo ID prior to completing any work.

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

If you're a landlord who needs to arrange a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. Gas Safe engineers can visit your property to perform a full check 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. Contact us or visit our site for more details.

What is an annual gas safety inspection?

Legally, you are obliged to conduct an annual gas safety check each year if you rent out some or all of your home. This includes checking your boiler service and gas safety certificate as well as any other gas appliances, such as flues, pipework and any fittings or fixtures that utilize or exhaust gases.

A trained Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will examine the gas appliances and flues, and look for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also make sure that the gas supply is turned on and the gas safety certificate how often meter has money in it.

After the inspection and the examination, it's a good idea to give an original copy of your gas safety report to your tenants. The record must be handed out to any existing tenants within 28 days, and to new tenants prior to they move in. Keep the copy for yourself as well as any agents that you use.

Landlords are responsible for organizing and paying for gas safety checks and certificates for their properties. If tenants refuse to allow the inspection or maintenance work to be carried out, you must take'reasonable steps' to gain access. This could include sending a strongly worded letter explaining why you require access to the property and what safety checks will involve. If the tenant is unwilling to let you in and you are not able to gain access, you might be considering the possibility of a Section 21 eviction.

Your annual gas safety check is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. This means that you don't need to organize it on your own or fret about when you'll need to complete it. You can also be confident that we're there for you in the event that you have to renew your policy or change any information.

Visit the Hometree website for more details about our insurance for landlords. 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 promise of no price increases means that you will not pay more in your annual premium than the inflation rate of the first year.