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Landlord Gas Safety Certificates – Common Mistakes Landlords Make Gas safety certificates for landlords aid landlords in complying with the law and safeguard their tenants and their families. These checks minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by identifying defective appliances, flues or pipework that must be fixed. These checks are usually done by a Gas Safe engineer and can be completed quickly. They are also easy to manage with digital tools that integrate into complete job management systems. Requirements Landlord gas safety certificates are a legal requirement, and landlords must ensure that all of their tenants have access to a qualified engineer to carry out a check. The best method to accomplish this is to include a clause in the tenancy agreement stating that the property will be accessible to a qualified engineer for Gas Safety checks. This will also clarify to the tenant what will happen if they refuse to allow access. Landlords are required to make sure that their properties are registered with an active CP12 certificate, which lasts for 12 months. Renewals should be done on the same date as the expiration date of the previous certificate to avoid wasting time when the two certificates cross. Recent changes to the law have given landlords more flexibility when they conduct their inspections. However, this does not mean they can cut down on their annual inspections. It is also important to remember that only an engineer registered with Gas Safe Register is legally authorized to work on gas piping and appliances, as well as flues and chimneys. If a landlord hires an unregistered engineer who is not registered, they could be held accountable for a criminal charge. If a tenant refuses access for the annual Gas Safety Check the landlord must send them a letter with a clear explanation of the reasons for refusing access and what they will do during the inspection. If the landlord fails to receive a response, they may take further action like the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. Installing inspection hatches will allow the engineer to look for gas leaks and ensure that the appliance shutoff valve is working. Tenants have responsibilities It's your responsibility to ensure that the gas lines in your apartment are secure. If you don't, your tenants could be injured in the event of a fire. In order to ensure the safety of your tenants make sure you have your NYC apartment gas inspection done by a licensed gas engineer. Also, you should ensure that your tenants have easy access to the gas supply. If you're not sure of your obligations, you should contact an New York Apartment Fire Injury Lawyer immediately. When you get the landlord gas safety certificate it is important to provide your tenants with the report at the beginning of their tenancy or within a short time after the test is completed. It should be displayed prominently in the building. If you're the landlord of a house that shares appliances, you could divide the flues and appliances into different parts to ensure that each one receives its own gas safety checks. There are times when you'll encounter tenants who won't allow the engineer to carry out the security checks. The reason is usually that the tenant believes it's an invasion of their privacy, or they are in an argument. It is important to remind them that carbon monoxide can be a deadly gas and it's your legal duty to protect them. If your tenants aren't willing to let the gas company to conduct the test, it's a good idea to include a clause in their contract that states that they must permit access for maintenance and safety inspections. The tenancy contract should clarify the conditions for when you can disconnect gas supplies and when this is permitted. It is also recommended to provide the operative a way to uniquely identifies him or herself for example, a scanned-in signature, employee ID, or a payroll number that is unique to them. Accessible Every property with gas appliances such as boilers must have a landlord gas safety certification. If a landlord is not able to renew their certificate, they could be subject to massive fines and the risk of making their tenants uncomfortable. To avoid this, it is crucial that landlords keep their certificates up-to-date by booking an annual check of their tenants gas. The cost of a safety inspection for gas appliances is determined by various aspects, such as the location of the home and the number of gas appliances in the home. gas safety certificate replacement are priced between PS35 to PS150 per property. However, the cost could vary greatly based on the location and the gas company used. Tenants must be provided by landlords with an original copy of their gas safety record that is referred to as a CP12. This document should be given to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection having been completed, and new tenants must be provided with it within 28 days of settling into the property. Landlords must keep a copy of the CP12 on the property and ensure that it is easily accessible. Tenants can make sure that their landlord is in possession of a valid certificate of gas safety by ensuring they have access and that the appliances they have with them aren't connected to mains gas. They should also be alert for clunking sounds and look for black marks on appliances or other signs that indicate that the gas system is not working properly. If they find any of these signs they should notify the landlord immediately. If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to conduct a gas safety check it is their responsibility to prove that they have taken all “reasonable steps” to be in compliance with the laws. This could mean repeating attempts to conduct the checks and contacting the tenant to explain that the safety checks are required by law to ensure their own security. Expiry date It is essential that landlords keep their gas safety certificates up to date. Failure to do so could lead to unexpected dangers for tenants, and lead to penalties from regulators. In addition, failing to renew a certificate in time could cause a landlord lose their insurance. It can be difficult to navigate the complicated regulations governing these certificates. There are some common mistakes that landlords make when they conduct these inspections, and they need to be aware of them in order to avoid making them. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange annual gas safety tests of all appliances and flues. They must also give copies to tenants who have been with them for at least 28 days after the test and to new tenants when they start their tenure. They must also keep a copy in a prominent location at the property. Landlords are required to keep records for these tests for at least two years. Since 6th April 2018 the regulations have been modified slightly to give landlords greater flexibility when they need to get their gas safety checks completed. This change allows a landlord to have their gas safety check carried out up to two months in advance of the due date while preserving the existing check expiry date. However, it is still important to make sure that a check is booked well in advance of the date of expiry, and not to assume that there is a grace time. If a landlord does not conduct gas safety inspections completed before the date on which their current certificate expires, they will not be able to rent their property until they have the new gas safety checks completed. Landlords should be aware that this is a major violation of the law and could lead to significant penalties. Recommendations As a landlord, you must ensure that your gas safety certificate is up-to-date at all times. Keep copies of previous certificates for a minimum of two years. You must shop around to find the best price. Prices can differ. During the inspection the engineer will provide you with an official Landlord Gas Safety Record. This is crucial to give new tenants with a copy of the document prior to when they move in and for demonstrating compliance with legal obligations. The document includes an explanation of each gas appliances checked and their places of operation. It also lists the dates of the test and any actions taken by the engineer. It should also include the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the test, as well as a unique identifier. This could be a scanned ID card, an electronic signature or an employee's payroll code that is unique to each person who uses it. The engineer will record any flues or appliances that are considered to be unsafe on the safety record. The landlords are then required to make arrangements for the necessary repairs to be made. If the issue cannot be solved within a reasonable amount of time, the engineer may disconnect the gas supply and request it be reconnected until repairs are made. Landlords are accountable for a myriad of things, but one of the most important is keeping up with regular gas safety inspections. If a fatal accident occurs and a landlord is not in compliance with regulations could be fined or even jailed.