Landlord Gas Safety Certificates - What You Need to Know
If you are a landlord, it is your obligation to provide your tenants with a gas safety certificate. This should be done each year and before any new tenants move into.
Only engineers who have been registered with Gas Safe can perform a CP12 inspection. You can check their credentials by checking their Gas Safe ID card.
What is what is a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
Landlord gas safety certificates, or CP12 certificates, prove that the gas appliances of a landlord's and flues have been inspected by an engineer registered with the company and are safe to use. These certificates are legal requirements of any landlord and must be renewed every year to comply with UK laws.
During the inspection, a Gas Safe engineer will inspect the gas appliances, pipes and flues to look for leaks or unsafe operations. The engineer will also check for carbon monoxide and make sure that there is adequate ventilation. The inspection typically lasts between 30 minutes and an hour for an average-sized home.
In the event of an issue the engineer will notify you of the issue and recommend any required repairs to ensure your tenants' safety. If you do not carry out the recommended repairs then you won't be issued a landlord gas safety certificate.
A landlord gas safety certification is vital to ensure the health and wellbeing of your tenants. Without one, you could face massive fines and your tenants could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or other gas related issues. It is worth mentioning that CP12 certificates may differ in price among different providers. Therefore, it is a wise idea to obtain several quotes before making a final decision.
No1PHD is your trusted service provider in Newport Pagnell. We have a national network of gas engineers. This means that we can send an expert to your location quickly, even if it is an emergency service. This is in stark contrast with sole operator gas engineers, who are often booked up and are unable to attend to urgent requests.
Landlords are also legally obliged to display their gas safety record, which should be given to all tenants upon the conclusion of their annual gas safety inspection. This document will contain an inventory of all gas appliances and flues that were inspected along with the date of completion.
What is the reason I must get a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that gas appliances or flues in your property are safe to use. It is your responsibility as a landlord to make sure that any gas appliances or flues within your property are safe to use. In the absence of this, it could result in substantial fines, or even criminal proceedings.
It is recommended to have your landlord gas safety check carried out by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. This will ensure that your gas appliance and flues work correctly, are free of problems and safe for your tenants to use.
A valid landlord gas safety certificate must be given to your tenants following the annual service and displayed in the property. It should be given to tenants within 28 days of the annual service and to new tenants at the time they start their tenancy.
If you are a landlord who has multiple properties, you should be sure to have them all checked and display the Gas Safety Certificate for each one. This will help to keep track of the expiry dates for each certificate, and ensure that you renew them prior to when they expire.
Landlords must also be responsible for any sublet accommodation they might have. While the original landlord retains duties that are not transferable to the person who is renting the property, they must ensure that responsibilities are clearly assigned in contractual agreements.
A CP12 gas safety certificate for landlords proves that your gas appliances and flues have been tested and are working correctly. Only Gas Safe registered engineers can perform these tests, so be sure that the engineer you hire has a valid Gas Safe ID card.
If your tenants refuse access to the gas safety inspection then you can write them a letter that explains the importance of the checks and the consequences if they continue refusing access. You could also ask the court for a warrant to access.
It is also important to know that it is against the law for a landlord to compel access to their property, or to use force to gain access. This is stated in section 39 of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations, 1998.
How do I get a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate?
To obtain a landlord gas safety certificate, a qualified Gas Safe engineer will need to examine your home's gas appliances and pipework. The engineer will issue a CP12 certification that demonstrates the safety of your property's pipes and gas appliances. This is an obligation for all landlords regardless of whether you have one property or an entire portfolio of rental properties.
Landlords must also make sure that their tenants are aware of the importance of regular maintenance and annual checks on all gas appliances and pipework. This is especially crucial for older or badly maintained appliances that are more likely to malfunction or break down. If you're not sure the frequency of servicing your appliances, refer to the guidelines of the manufacturer to find out what is recommended.
If your home has been vacant for a prolonged period, you should check it for gas safety. This could be an possibility for criminal activity or vandalism. You will receive a new Gas Safety Record listing all the results after the inspection is completed. It can be handed out to your tenants to ensure that the house is safe to occupy.
If your engineers discover any problems with your gas appliances, they'll request permission to disconnect the supply. This is an essential step to avoid any potential risks to your tenants. It is essential to adhere to the advice of your engineers as quickly as possible to avoid putting anyone at risk.
Sometimes, it's difficult to gain entry into a home to conduct an inspection of gas safety. In such cases you will need to demonstrate that you've taken all 'reasonable steps' to meet your legal obligations, including writing to the tenant and explaining that gas safety checks are a necessary necessity for their own safety. You may also request the engineer to visit on a different occasion, or in extreme situations, you may need to seek legal advice.
Can I get a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate for multiple properties?
As a landlord, you're required to test your flues and gas appliances each year. This is to ensure they are operating in a safe manner and that your tenants are in an environment that is safe for them to reside. Landlords are also required to give their tenants an original copy of the gas safety record within 28 days of the check and place it in a prominent location in the property.
The law governing the safety of landlords in the gas industry is reviewed frequently to reflect the latest technologies and how we use our homes. The latest amendments to Gas Safety Regulations, for instance, provide landlords with the option to renew their certificates up to two month before the deadline, without losing their validity. This change helps reduce the risk of over compliance and improves maintenance planning.
A landlord gas safety certificate is only issued by a licensed engineer who is registered on the Gas Safe Register. Finding a reliable engineer who can inspect your property and all of its gas appliances is essential. Once the inspection is complete they will issue you with an Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 which demonstrates that your home is in compliance with the relevant regulations.
If your tenant refuses to let you access their property for annual gas safety checks, it is worth trying to persuade them to allow you access. You can send them a letter stating the importance of the checks and what they will be. If they refuse you, you could try serving them with a Section 21 notice or applying to the courts for an injunction.
It is important to renew your landlord's gas safety certificate prior to when the expiration date of your current certificate. In the event of not doing so, it could result in hefty fines and can make your appliances unsafe for tenants to use.
If you are a landlord who has multiple properties, it is important to keep track of the dates when your gas safety inspections are due to expire and book them in advance. Newport Pagnell gas engineers will help you avoid the hassle of having tenants try to get access, and will ensure that all of your properties have an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate.