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What is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate? It's important that you understand your obligations as a landlord with regards to gas safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, 1998, are a requirement for landlords. You should arrange for your onsite appliances and flues to be inspected every year by an Gas Safe registered engineer. You must also provide a copy gas safety certificate to your tenants. What is a gas safety certificate? A gas safety certificate for landlords is a legal document that is issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer gives to the owner of the property after conducting a safety audit. It should contain all 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 things are in good functioning order and provide their tenants with copies of the document they have completed. All landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected every 12 months, and to obtain an annual certificate of gas safety. The regulations require that landlords schedule 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 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 perform a full inspection of all of the gas appliances and installation pipes within the property. The engineer will also check each appliance's emergency control. The engineer will also test the emergency control for each appliance. If a tenant is refusing to permit access to the inspection, the landlord may attempt to persuade them to allow the inspection to let them in by writing a strong letter outlining why they require the checks to be completed and what will happen should they refuse to allow them access. If this doesn't work the landlord should think about initiating the eviction process by giving them 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 that is carried out. This should be provided to existing tenants as well as any new tenants before they move into the property. You must also keep the original record for two years. What is a gas safety certification for tenants? Generally speaking, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances that are in their property are tested annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement and the cost can range from PS60-PS120 based on the items included in the test. The engineer will issue an CP12 (Landlord Gas Safety Record) to the landlord following the inspection, which must be passed on to tenants within four weeks of the test having been completed. This document is a record and must be kept by the landlord two years following the date of the first inspection. It is recommended to keep the documents online to reduce the amount of waste. Landlords must also make sure that they have access to the property to conduct the annual service and gas safety inspections. If landlord gas safety certificate how often is unwilling to admit access, the law states that the landlord must take'reasonable steps' to gain access to complete the inspection. This can include writing to them, asking them to contact the engineer directly, and reiterating requests for entry. You may also contact the local council, who might be able to send an official to explain why it's crucial to allow access for safety and maintenance inspections. If the tenant does not let access in and the landlord is considering eviction. While this should be considered a last option but it is legal right for the landlord to evict a tenant that refuses to cooperate with safety checks. This is a complex procedure, and landlords should consult with a lawyer before making a decision. The landlord is responsible for all gas pipes, appliances and flues they own and supply for use by the tenants. This is the case even if the property is completely or partially sub-leased by the landlord to third parties. However, the original landlord and any person who is acquiring responsibilities through contractual arrangements should cooperate, with a clear division of duties, to ensure that the legal requirements are fully met. If a landlord has enlisted the services of a managing agent to manage their rental properties, it is essential to find out who is responsible for conducting the gas safety tests. Some agents will take on this responsibility, but it is important to consult with the agency to ensure that you are covered. What is a gas safety certificate for sub-let? When a landlord leases their property, they must ensure that the property is safe for the residents who live there. Gas safety certificates show that all gas appliances and flues have been examined by a certified engineer and deemed safe. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that gas safety checks are carried out each year, and copies of the certificates are given to the tenants. The checks must be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The CP12 form must contain the Gas Safe engineer's ID number and date of issue. It is also legal that the landlord hand the tenants a copy the gas safety certificate within 28 days of any checks being completed. In the same way, landlords must provide a copy of CP12 to any new tenants before they move in. There are some exceptions to this rule however, if the property is used for short-term leases such as holiday cottages for students or student housing. It is a good idea to include the details of these exemptions in your tenancy agreement as it could save you a lot of stress and legal complexities in the future. If a landlord discovers that any of their appliances or flues aren't safe during the course of an inspection they should arrange for them to be repaired as soon as they can. This could mean disconnecting and reconnecting the gas supply to the appliance or installing. Landlords must ensure that their gas engineers have Gas Safe registration and verify their identity using their photo card prior to carrying out any work. Despite the exemptions mentioned above, the regulations around gas safety checks for landlords are strict and must be followed. If the landlord is found to be in breach of the regulations, they could be prosecuted which could result in fines and even jail sentences for the offending party. If you're a landlord and want to arrange a gas safety inspection, Total Landlord can help. We have a network of Gas Safe engineers who can visit your property and conduct a thorough inspection and issue a CP12 gas safety certificate. Our prices are reasonable and we provide an same-day service for emergencies. Call us or visit our site today for more information. What is an annual gas safety inspection? If you rent out part or all of your home, it's your legal responsibility to have an annual gas safety check. This includes checking the boiler and other gas appliances like pipes and flues as well as the fixtures and fittings that make use of or exhaust gas. A certified Gas Safe engineer will inspect your home and ensure that everything is up-to-date and safe. They will test the flues and gas appliances and look for indications of carbon monoxide poisoning or leaks. They will also ensure that the gas is switched on and that the gas meter is charged up. It's a good idea give your tenants an original copy of the gas safety certificate after the inspection and check was carried out. It should be handed out to tenants who have been in the property for a period of 28 days and to new tenants before moving in. You should also keep a copy of your gas safety record for yourself and any agents you use. Landlords are required to arrange and pay for gas safety certificates and checks for their properties. If tenants refuse to allow the inspection or maintenance work to be completed the landlord must take reasonable steps' to gain access. You can send an explanation in a letter of why you require access to the property as well as the safety inspections that are required. If the tenant still refuses the request, you may want to consider initiating a Section 21 eviction process. The annual gas safety inspection is covered by your Hometree landlord insurance policy. That means you don't have to arrange it separately or worry about when you'll need get it done. You can be assured that our team will be available to help you if you need to change your policy information or renew your policy. For more information on our insurance plans for landlords, please visit the Hometree website. You can also sign up for a no-cost quote to find out more about the packages and the cost you'll be paying. Our no-price hike guarantee means that your annual cost won't increase by more than the rate of inflation for the first year.