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Landlord Gas Safety Certificates – Common Mistakes Landlords Make Landlord gas safety certificates help landlords comply with the law and protect their tenants their lives. These checks help reduce the chance of carbon dioxide poisoning by identifying malfunctioning equipment, flues or pipework that need to be repaired. The checks can be performed quickly by Gas Safe engineers. Digital tools that are integrated into job management systems simplify the management of jobs. Requirements Gas safety certificates for landlords are a legal requirement, and landlords must ensure that all their tenants have access to a certified engineer to carry out a check. This can be done by incorporating a clause into your tenancy agreement that says that the property is accessible for Gas Safety checks. It will also convey to the tenant that if they don't allow access the landlord will take the appropriate steps to enforce the rules. Landlords must ensure that their properties are equipped with an active CP12 certification that is valid for 12 months. Renewals must be made on the same day as the expiration of the previous certificate to avoid having to wait when the two certificates cross. Recent changes to the law have allowed landlords more flexibility when they conduct their inspections. However, this does not mean that they are able to cut down their annual inspections. It is important to remember that only an engineer registered with Gas Safe Register is legally permitted to work on gas appliances and piping, as well as chimneys and flues. If a landlord employs an engineer who is not registered, they could be liable for a criminal offense. If a tenant refuses to permit access to the annual Gas Safety Check, the landlord has to send them a clear letter stating why they need access and what the inspection will involve. If the landlord does not receive a reply then they should think about taking additional steps, like sending the tenant with a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction. It is also recommended to put up inspection hatches in the property to allow the engineer to check for gas leaks and ensure that the appliance shut-off valve is working. Tenant's responsibilities It's your responsibility to ensure that the gas lines in your apartment are secure. If you do not, your tenants could suffer injuries in an incident. To ensure the safety of your tenants, you should have your NYC apartment's gas inspection conducted by a certified engineer. It is also important to ensure that your tenants can easily access the gas supply. If you're not sure about your obligations, consult an New York Apartment Fire Injury Lawyer immediately. If you are granted a gas safety certificate for your landlord, it's important to provide your tenants with an official copy of the report at the beginning of their tenancy, or as soon as possible after the inspection is completed. You should also display it prominently in your property. If you are the manager of an apartment that shares appliances, you may want to divide the flues and appliances into separate parts so that each section gets their own safety check. There are times when you'll encounter tenants who won't allow the engineer to conduct the security inspections. It's usually because the tenant is concerned about invasion of their privacy or they're involved in an argument. Be sure to remind them that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas, and it's your legal obligation to protect the environment. If your tenants aren't willing to let the gas company to conduct the test, it's a good idea to include an agreement that requires them to grant access to the gas operative for maintenance and safety checks. The tenancy contract should also define whether or not you can disconnect gas lines and when this is permitted. You should also provide the operative a way to identify themselves as a unique individual for example, a scanned-in signature, employee ID, or a pay number that is unique to them. Accessible Every property with a gas appliance such as boilers must be equipped with a gas safety certificate. If a landlord fails to renew their certificate, they can face massive fines and the risk of making their tenants unnecessarily uncomfortable. To avoid this, landlords should always keep their certificates up-to-date by scheduling an annual gas inspection for their tenants. The cost of a gas safety test is determined by a number of different factors, including the location of the property as well as the amount of gas appliances it has. In general, a gas safety check costs between PS35 and PS150 per property. The cost varies dependent on the location of the property as well as the gas company that is used. Landlords must provide their tenants with the gas safety certificate, which is commonly known as a CP12. The document must be handed out to tenants in the 28 days of the inspection having been completed and new tenants must be provided with it within 28 days of moving into the property. Landlords should display a copy of the CP12 on the property and ensure it is easily accessible. Tenants can also help to ensure that their landlord has a valid gas safety certificate by ensuring they have access to the property, and that the appliances they own are not connected to the mains gas. They should also be looking for clunking sounds or black marks on appliances or other signs of problems with the gas system. If they find any of these signs they should inform the landlord right away. If a landlord is not able to gain access to a property to conduct a gas safety inspection it is their responsibility to prove that they have taken all “reasonable steps” to comply with the laws. This could include repeat attempts to carry out checks and writing to tenants to inform them that safety checks are a requirement by law for their safety. Expiry date It is vital that landlords have their gas safety certificates current. In the absence of this, it could lead to unforeseen hazards and fines from regulatory agencies. In addition, failing renew a certificate in time could cause a landlord lose their insurance. However, navigating the complicated regulations governing these certificates can be difficult. There are common mistakes that landlords make when they conduct these checks, and they should be aware of these to avoid them. Landlords are required to conduct annual gas safety checks of all flues and appliances on their property. They must also provide copies to tenants who have been with them for a minimum of 28 days following the test and to new tenants when they begin their tenure. The copy must be displayed in a prominent spot on the property. do homeowners need a gas safety certificate must also keep records of these tests for a minimum of two years. Since the 6th April 2018 the regulations have been amended to give landlords greater flexibility when it comes to scheduling their gas safety inspections. This change permits landlords to have their gas safety checks completed up to two months in advance of the due date, while keeping the current expiry date. However, it is still vital to ensure that a check is booked prior to the expiry date and not to think that there is a grace period. If a landlord fails to conduct gas safety checks done before the date that their current certificate expires, they'll be unable to rent out their property until they've had the new gas safety checks completed. Landlords should be aware that this is an important violation of regulations, and they could face massive penalties. Recommendations As a landlord you must ensure that your gas safety certificate is current at all times. It is also recommended to keep copies of your previous certificates for at least two years. It's a good idea shop around for a competitive cost, as prices may vary. During the inspection the engineer will issue you with the completed Landlord Gas Safety Record. This is important to provide to tenants who are about to move in prior to their move-in date and to prove compliance with the legal requirements. The document contains the details of all gas appliances checked and their places of operation. It also lists their test dates, as well as any actions taken by the engineer. It should also include the name and registration number of the engineer who performed the test, along with an unique identifier. This could be an electronic signature, a scanned identification card, or a pay number that is unique to the operative. If the engineer finds any appliance or flue that is unsafe, they will mention this on the safety check record. The landlords then have to make arrangements for the necessary repairs to be done. If the issue cannot be solved within a reasonable time frame the engineer can shut off the gas supply and request that it be reconnected until repairs are completed. Landlords have a number of responsibilities to their tenants, and staying up-to-date with annual gas safety checks is one of the most important. If a fatal incident occurs the landlord who does not adhere to the rules could be punished with a fine or even imprisoned.