As a Chelmsford landlord, it is your legal responsibility to ensure your property is safe. The Gas appliances, fittings and flues in your property are safe for tenants. Outlined in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Anyone who lets a property needs to be aware that gas safety inspections and certification are a legal requirement. New landlords may not know the procedure for obtaining a gas safety certificate.
TM Hughes & Son have been issuing gas safety certificates in Chelmsford for years, so you’re in safe hands.
What Is A Landlords Gas Safety Certificate?
A Landlords Gas Safety Certificates (sometimes referred to as CP12 certificates) issued by registered Gas Safe Engineers. Prove your property is safe for your tenants. The certificates need issuing every year.
Certificates include
- A description and location of each appliance or flue checked
- The name, registration number and signature of the individual carrying out the check
- The date on which the appliance or flue was checked
- The address of the property checked
- The name and address of the landlord (or their agent where appropriate)
- Any safety-related defect identified and any remedial action taken
- Confirmation that the safety check has included an examination of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of
regulation 26(9) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
By law, you cannot rent your property to anyone until you have the required gas safety certification. Any potential tenants or letting agents will ask for a valid certificate. By law, you have to produce one on request. A good landlord will want to ensure their tenants and property is safe. A gas safety check proves your gas system and appliances is safe and runs as it should.
Our gas safe registered engineers can check your property and appliances and issue certificates for compliant properties. In the event of a deficiency in your gas system or appliances, our engineers can fix the problem at a fair price. Landlords should have their properties checked every twelve months. We will ensure your certificate doesn’t expire. We will get in touch with two months before your certificate expires. This way you have the piece of mind your certificate’s renewed in time.
The Legislation
As a landlord, you are responsible for the safety of your tenants. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with landlords’ duties to make sure gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants are safe.
Appliances, fittings and flues in a communal area but which may be used by tenants are also included. You are responsible for the maintenance and repair of flues,appliances and pipework provided for your tenants use ;by a Gas Safe registered engineer . Although there is no prescribed timeframe for these duties, good practice would be the demonstration of regular, annual maintenance checks and subsequent repairs.
You are also responsible for ensuring an annual gas safety check is carried out within 12 months of the installation of a new appliance or flue which you provide and annually thereafter by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. You must keep a record of the safety check for 2 years and issue a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed and issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in.
Who Is A Landlord?
In relation to domestic gas under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GS(IU)R 98), a landlord is anyone who rents out a property that they own under a lease that is shorter than 7 years or under a licence . Regardless of whether you are a landlord under GS(IU)R 98 you may be considered a landlord under other related legislation.
Landlords’ duties apply to a wide range of accommodation, occupied under a lease or licence, which includes, but not exclusively:residential premises provided for rent by local authorities, housing associations, private sector landlords, housing co-operatives, hostelsrooms let in bed-sit accommodation, private households, bed and breakfast accommodation and hotelsrented holiday accommodation such as chalets, cottages, flats, caravans and narrow boats on inland waterways.
Gas Safety Check Procedure
- One of our engineers can visit your property at a time convenient for you.
- All gas appliances need to be safety checked for completion of your certificate.
- A check will confirm your appliances are safe to use.
- Gas appliances include boilers, ovens, hobs and fires.
- Gas is checked to ensure it’s burning a the correct rate.
- The appliance casing’s checked.
- Connection to gas supply’s checked.
- Air supply’s checked (Not all spaces are suitable for gas appliances)
- Flues and chimneys are working. All exhaust gasses expelled as they should.
- All safety devices on appliances checked to make sure they’re working.
- External devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide devices are checked.
- After the check’s completed a certificate can be issued.
If any issues are found with your appliances or gas system repairs will be advised and priced. In most cases, we can perform repairs there and then. Our vans carry common parts for gas repairs. Any other parts can usually be sourced the same day. Our procedures ensure you can get your certification on the day of the inspection. Only on rare occasions, we won’t be able to source the part the same day. In this instance, we can be back with you in a day or two. Then we finish the repair. Completing your gas safety certificate.
If you’re a landlord in Chelmsford and need a Gas Safety Certificate for your property, please get in touch using the phone number or contact form below