Making sure you have an up-to-date gas safety certificate is one of your most important duties when renting out property. Without it you could be putting your tenants at risk and be liable for a fine of up to £6,000 – or even six months in prison.
If you don’t supply your tenants with a copy of the certificate on time, you will also find it difficult to get them to leave the property should you need them to.
The rules around gas safety certificates are, understandably, a big concern for many people looking to rent out a home – and we get plenty of questions on the issue. To help you understand your responsibilities regarding landlord gas safety certificates, we’ve put together some of our most frequently asked questions…
What are your landlord responsibilities for gas safety?
According to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 you must make sure all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues are safe and working efficiently. You have three main responsibilities in this area:
1 Gas safety check
Organise an annual gas safety check, which must be carried out by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. The engineer will inspect all gas appliances and flues on the property and give you a gas safety certificate.
2 Gas safety record
Provide a copy of the gas safety certificate, sometimes called a gas safety record, to your tenant within 28 days of the check – or of them moving into the property if they are a new tenant.
3 Maintenance
Organise the essential maintenance needed to ensure that all gas pipework, appliances, chimneys and flues are kept in a safe condition. Check the gas appliances’ manufacturer guidelines to find out how often a service is recommended – if you’re not sure, organise an annual service or get advice from a Gas Safe-registered engineer.
What is a landlord gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is the report you will receive once a Gas Safe-registered engineer has inspected the gas appliances and flues on your property. It will give the results of the check, as well as any remedial action you will need to take to make the property safe.
What is a CP12?
A gas safety certificate is sometimes referred to as a CP12 – or Corgi proforma 12. This is the previous name for the certificate, dating from when Corgi was the registration body for gas engineers. Corgi was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009.
What should an inspection include?
A gas safety inspection will check all gas systems and appliances, including the gas supply, gas boiler, and any gas fires. The engineer will:
- check appliances for tightness and against safety regulations
- ensure there is sufficient ventilation
- check burner and gas pressures against the manufacturer’s data
- check the flue flow to ensure the removal of combustible products
- monitor standing and working gas pressure
- check that safety devices are working and for any misuse of gas appliances.
How much does a gas safety check cost?
There is no set cost for a gas safety check, it will depend upon the company you choose and the going rate in your area. It is recommended that you get at least three quotes from Gas Safe-registered companies first. You can find a registered business in your local area on the
Gas Safe website.
How long does a gas safety certificate last?
Gas safety certificates last for 12 months. You can arrange for a gas safety check at any time from 10 to 12 months after the last check, without it affecting the original expiry date.
How long must the landlord keep the gas safety certificate once it has expired?
It is worth hanging on to your old gas safety certificates for at least two years, because they demonstrate a history of compliance and proper maintenance of the appliances.
What if the tenant owns their own gas appliances?
Appliances owned by your tenant aren’t your responsibility, but it’s up to you to ensure the safety of connecting flues. It would be in your interests to remind your tenant that their appliances should be checked by a Gas Safe-registered engineer each year – you could offer to include the appliance in your own checks and servicing plans and pass on any additional costs.
Do I need to install carbon monoxide alarms?
By law, all rooms with a solid fuel-burning appliance, such as a coal fire or wood-burning stove, must have a carbon monoxide alarm. While not currently a legal requirement, it is also good practice to install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a gas appliance.
What are the rules about gas safety checks and coronavirus?
The coronavirus crisis has made it harder for landlords to comply with the law in some areas – due to tenants self-isolating at home and difficulty finding engineers to carry out work.
The advice to landlords is that your responsibilities around providing a safe home for your tenants has not changed and you must make and record efforts to carry out any necessary repairs and maintenance – this also applies to your annual gas safety check.
Landlords are advised to make use of the two-month window, during which you can carry out a check without it affecting the expiry date – see above. By carrying out the check sooner rather than later you can avoid missing the deadline for your check if your tenant needs to self-isolate
Where can I find out more?
Find out more about gas safety certificates and gas safety checks on the
Gas Safe website. If you are a new landlord, we’d be happy to talk you through landlord gas safety checks and any other aspects of renting out property. Please contact us today on 01761 412300 or email lettings@allen-residential.co.uk