Landlord Gas Safety Certificates - Common Mistakes Landlords Make
Gas safety certificates for landlords help landlords comply with the law and protect their tenants' lives. These tests lower the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, by identifying defective appliances, flues or pipework that must be fixed.
These checks can be completed quickly by Gas Safe engineers. They are also easy to manage using digital tools that are integrated into full job management solutions.
Requirements
Landlords are required to provide gas safety certificates. They must also make sure that their tenants have the ability to access a licensed engineer for an inspection. This can be accomplished by incorporating a clause in your tenancy agreement which states that the property is accessible for Gas Safety checks. It will also be clear to the tenant what happens should they refuse access.
Landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with an active CP12 certificate, which is valid for 12 months. Renewals should be scheduled on the same date as the expiration date of the previous certificate to avoid wasting time when the two certificates are in conflict. Recent changes to the law have provided landlords more flexibility in when they conduct their inspections. However this doesn't mean that they can shorten their annual inspections.
It is also important to keep in mind that only an engineer who is registered with Gas Safe Register is legally allowed to work on gas appliances and piping and chimneys and flues. A landlord who employs an engineer who isn't registered may be accused of an offense that is considered criminal.
If a tenant is refusing access for the annual Gas Safety Check the landlord must send them a letter in a strong wording explaining the reasons for refusing access and what will be involved in the inspection. If the landlord doesn't receive a response, they may think about taking further steps, such as the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. It's also recommended to put up inspection hatches on the property to allow the engineer to look for gas leaks and ensure that the appliance shut-off valve is functioning.
Tenants' responsibilities
It is your responsibility to ensure that the gas lines in your apartment are secure. You could cause your tenants to suffer injuries if fail to do so. To ensure the safety of tenants, you should have your NYC apartment's gas inspection done by a certified engineer. You should also ensure that your tenants have access to the gas supply. If you are not sure about your responsibilities, speak to an New York Apartment Injury Lawyer as soon as possible.
It is essential that you hand your tenants the gas safety certificate of the landlord at the start of their tenancy or as soon after the inspection as is possible. It should be prominently displayed within the property. If you are the manager of an apartment that has shared appliances, you might prefer to split the flues and appliances into separate parts so that each section receives its own safety check.
There are times when you'll encounter tenants who won't allow the engineer to carry out the security inspections. This usually happens because they think that it's an invasion to their privacy or they're involved in a dispute with the landlord. It is important to remind them that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas and it's your legal obligation to safeguard them.
If your tenants don't want to allow the gas engineer to carry out the test, it's worth including the clause in their lease that requires them to allow access for maintenance and safety inspections. The tenancy contract should also clarify whether or not you can disconnect gas supplies and when this is permitted. You should also give the operative a way to identify themselves as a unique individual by scanning a signature, an employee ID, or a payroll number that is unique to them.
Access
A gas safety certificate for landlords is required for every property that is equipped with a gas appliance, such as boilers. If mkgassafety.co.uk fails to renew their certificate, they can face massive fines and the risk of making their tenants uncomfortable. To avoid this, landlords should always keep their certificates current by scheduling an annual gas inspection for their tenants.
The cost of a safety inspection for gas appliances is determined by a variety of factors, including the location of the house and the amount of gas appliances within the house. Gas safety checks are priced between PS35 to PS150 per property. The cost can vary dependent on the location of the property as well as the gas company employed.
Landlords are required to give an official copy of the gas safety record (also known as a CP12) to their tenants. This document must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection having been completed and new tenants should receive it within 28 days of settling into the property. Landlords must display a copy CP12 at the property, and ensure it is readily accessible.
Tenants can also help to ensure that their landlord has an appropriate gas safety certificate by ensuring that they have access to the property, and that the appliances they own are not connected to the mains gas. They should also look for clunking sounds, look for black marks on appliances, or other indications that the gas system isn't working properly. If they observe any of these signs they should inform the landlord immediately.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to conduct a gas safety check, they must show that they have taken all "reasonable steps" to comply with laws. This could mean making multiple attempts to carry out checks and sending letters to tenants to inform them that safety checks are a requirement by law for their protection.
Expiry date
It is crucial that landlords keep their gas safety certificates up to date. Failure to do this could lead to unexpected dangers for tenants, and lead to penalties from regulators. Failure to renew a certification on time could also result in the insurance policy of a landlord to be cancelled. However, understanding the complex regulations surrounding these certificates can be difficult. Landlords often make mistakes when it comes time to perform these checks. They must be aware of these to avoid them.
Landlords are required to conduct annual gas safety checks of all flues and appliances within their premises. They are also required to provide copies to tenants who have rented the property within 28 days of the test, and to new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. They are also required to display a copy in a prominent location at the property. Landlords must also keep records of these tests for at least two years.
Since the 6th of April, 2018 the regulations have been amended to allow landlords more flexibility in arranging their gas safety inspections. This change allows landlords to have their gas safety checks completed up to two months before the due date, while still maintaining the expiry date of the check. It is important to book the check in advance and not believe that there is a grace period.
If a landlord does not have their gas safety checks done before the date when their current certificate expires, they'll be unable to let their property until they have had the new gas safety checks completed. Landlords need to be aware that this is a serious violation of regulations and they can face substantial fines.
Recommendations
As a landlord, you must ensure that your gas safety certificate remains current at all times. It is also recommended to keep copies of previous certificates for at least two years. It's a good idea to shop around for a competitive cost, since prices can differ.
During the inspection, you will be issued an Landlord Gas Safety Record. This is important to provide to new tenants prior to their move-in date and as proof of compliance with the legal requirements. The document contains a description of all gas appliances tested and their locations. It also lists their test dates and any actions taken by the engineer. It should also include the name, registration number, and unique identifier for the engineer who conducted the test. This could be an electronic signature, a scanned identification card, or a pay number that is unique to the operative.
The engineer will note any appliances or flues that are considered to be unsafe on the safety check record. The landlord then has to arrange the necessary repairs. If the issue cannot be rectified within a reasonable amount of time the engineer can shut off the gas supply and request it be reconnected until repairs are made.
Landlords are accountable for a range of things, but one of the most important is keeping up with the annual gas safety inspections. Infractions to the rules could result in a fine or even imprisonment in the event of a fatal accident.