You have several responsibilities when renting out your Wokingham property for the first time. As a landlord, you have a duty to your tenants to keep the property reasonably safe, which includes the gas supply system, gas appliances, and chimneys/flues. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 in the United Kingdom require annual inspections of gas appliances by a Gas Safe registered engineer. As simple as it may seem, landlords must fulfill three responsibilities under the Gas Safety Certificate.
If a Landlord has a Gas Safety Certificate, How Long Does it Remain Valid?
If a landlord wants to keep their Gas Safety Certificate current, they must have an annual inspection performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. It can be done between 10 and 12 calendar months after the previous check, with the same expiration date. If a gas safety inspection is performed within 10 months or more than 12 months of the last review, the deadline will be reset to 12 months after the most recent inspection.
Record
You will then be given a Landlord Gas Safety Record or Gas Safety Certificate outlining the inspection results. This document is also known as the CP12 certificate. Existing tenants must be given a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days of the inspection’s completion, and new tenants must be given a copy before moving in. It is also the landlord’s responsibility to keep a copy of the record for two years.
Maintenance
Gas lines, appliances, and vents must be serviced per manufacturers’ guidelines to ensure the safety of your tenant. If these instructions are not available, an annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer is recommended. Landlords are not required by law to keep records of property repairs, but doing so is in everyone’s best interests. This will allow you to show, if necessary, that necessary repairs were performed regularly.
You are responsible for ensuring the safety of the gas appliances in your rental property, but your responsibilities only last for a while. You are not responsible for maintaining or inspecting any gas appliances your tenants own. Among the questions, we get from time to time about Gas Safety Certificate are the following:
Is a landlord required to have a gas safety certificate, and what happens if I don’t have one?
Landlords are required by law to conduct an annual gas inspection. Renting out a home where gas is not used safely may result in criminal charges. Infractions of gas safety regulations can result in fines of up to £6,000 per infraction.
What information must be included on an official gas safety certificate?
Gas safety documentation should include the following items:
- Data about the tests that were performed that is simple to understand every inspected appliance and chimney, along with its location and description.
- Details about the engineer who performed the inspections, such as their name, license number, and signature. When the inspections were carried out the location of the appliance or the chimney
How much does a gas safety certificate cost?
Location, service provider, and the number of appliances to be inspected all play a role in determining cost. They usually cost between £60 and £80, but in exceptional cases, they can cost up to £150. Getting multiple quotes from different companies is a good idea if you want to save money. However, ensure you understand what you’re getting for your money; companies claiming the lowest prices may not be the best deal after all.
I need a Gas Safety Certificate, but I need to figure out where to get one. A Safe Gas engineer must carry out any inspection. Suppose you have Michael Hardy manage your rental property. In that case, we will schedule the annual gas safety inspection (and service) and ensure that the certification is available to tenants within the legally mandated 28-day window. We can send you a friendly reminder each year when it’s time for your annual inspection and service, negotiate a price on your behalf, and ensure that everyone who requires a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate receives one.
If you have any further questions about becoming a landlord, the legal requirements, or if you would like a free market appraisal of your property, please get in touch with us at either our 020 7097 1689 numbers.
