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Landlord Gas Safety Certificates – Common Mistakes Landlords Make Landlord gas safety certificates help landlords comply with the law and safeguard their tenants and their families. These checks help reduce the chance of carbon dioxide poisoning by identifying defective equipment, flues, or pipework that need to be repaired. These checks are usually done by a Gas Safe engineer and can be completed in a short time. Digital tools that are integrated into job management systems allow for easy management. Requirements Landlords are required to provide gas safety certificates. They also need to make sure that their tenants have the ability to access a qualified engineer to conduct an inspection. The best method to accomplish this is to include an agreement in the tenancy agreement which states that the property will be accessible to a qualified engineer for Gas Safety checks. This will also clarify to the tenant what will happen should they refuse access. Landlords must ensure that their properties have 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 are in conflict. Recent changes to the law have provided landlords more flexibility when they conduct their inspections. However this doesn't mean that they are able to cut down their annual inspections. It is vital to remember that only registered engineers with Gas Safe Register are legally allowed to work with gas piping, appliances and flues. If a landlord employs an engineer who is not registered, they could be liable for a criminal offence. If a tenant refuses to permit access to the annual Gas Safety Check, the landlord has to send them a clearly worded letter explaining why they require access and what the inspection will entail. If the landlord isn't able to receive a response and they aren't sure what to do, they can take further action, such as serving the tenant with a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction. Installing inspection hatches will enable the engineer to look for gas leaks and ensure that the appliance shutoff valve functions. Tenants are responsible for their actions It is your responsibility to ensure that the gas lines in your apartment are secure. Your tenants could be at risk to suffer injuries if you do not take the necessary steps. To ensure the safety of your tenants it is recommended that you have your NYC apartment gas inspection done by a licensed gas engineer. It is also important to ensure that your tenants can easily access the gas supply. If you're unsure of your responsibilities, contact a New York Apartment Fire Injury Lawyer right away. It is essential that you hand your tenants the landlord gas safety certification at the start of their tenancy or as soon as possible. It should be prominently displayed within the property. If you are the manager of an apartment that shares appliances, you might prefer to split the flues and appliances into separate sections so that each section gets its own safety check. There are tenants who do not want to let the engineer to conduct the safety inspections. This is usually because they believe it's an invasion of their privacy or they're involved with a dispute with their landlord. Try to remind them that carbon monoxide can be a deadly gas and it's your legal responsibility to safeguard them. If your tenants aren't ready to let the gas company to conduct the test, it's a good idea to include a clause in their contract which states that they must grant access to the gas operative for maintenance or safety inspections. The tenancy agreement should clarify whether you can shut off gas supply and, if yes and when it is permitted. You should also provide the employee with a method to identify him/her by the person, such as a scanned signature or a unique payroll number to them, or an employee ID. Accessible Every home that has gas appliances such as a boiler must be equipped with a gas safety certificate. A landlord who fails to renew their certificate can face massive fines and also the possibility of making tenants uncomfortable. To avoid this, landlords should ensure that their certificates are up to date by booking an annual gas inspection for their tenants. The cost of a safety inspection for gas appliances is determined by a variety of factors, such as the location of the home and the amount of gas appliances within the home. In general an inspection for gas safety costs between PS35 and PS150 per property. However, the cost can differ significantly based on the location and the gas company used. Tenants must be provided by landlords with the gas safety certificate that is also known as a CP12. The document must be handed out to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection being completed, and new tenants must be provided with it within 28 days of settling into the property. Landlords should keep a copy CP12 on the property and ensure that it is easily accessible. Tenants can also ensure that their landlord has a valid gas safety certification by ensuring they have access to the property and that any appliances owned by them are not connected to the mains gas. They should also look for clunking noises or black marks on appliances, or other signs of problems with the gas system. They should notify the landlord if they observe any of these indications. If a landlord cannot gain access to the property to conduct a gas safety inspection and is unable to do so, they must prove that they have taken all “reasonable steps” to be in compliance with the laws. This could include repeating attempts to carry out the checks, and writing to the tenant to inform them that the safety checks are legally required to ensure their security. Expiry date It is vital that landlords have their gas safety certificates up to date. In the absence of this, it could lead to unforeseen hazards and fines from regulatory agencies. Failure to renew a certification within the stipulated timeframe can cause the insurance of a landlord to be canceled. It can be difficult to navigate the complicated regulations that govern these certificates. Landlords are often prone to making mistakes when it comes time to conduct these checks. They must be aware of these issues to avoid them. Landlords are legally required to schedule annual gas safety inspections of all onsite appliances and flues. how much gas safety certificate must also provide copies to tenants who have been living with them for at least 28 days following the test, and to new tenants when they begin their tenancy. The copy must be displayed in a prominent location on the property. Landlords are required to keep records for these tests for a minimum of two years. Since the 6th April, 2018 the regulations have been changed slightly to give landlords more flexibility when getting their gas safety checks completed. This change permits landlords to have their gas safety checks carried out up to two months in advance of the due date, while preserving the existing check expiry date. However, it's vital to ensure that a check is scheduled prior to the date of expiry, and not to presume that there is a grace time. If a landlord does not conduct gas safety inspections completed before the date when their current certificate expires, they will not be able to rent their property until they have had the new gas safety checks completed. Landlords should be aware that this is a serious breach of regulation and they may be subject to substantial fines. Recommendations As a landlord, you have to ensure that your gas safety certificate remains current at all times. It is also recommended to keep copies of previous certificates for a minimum of two years. It is a good idea to look around for a reasonable price, as costs can vary. During the inspection, the engineer will issue you with a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record. This document is essential to give the new tenants prior to their move-in, and as proof of compliance with legal requirements. The document contains the description and where to find all gas appliances and flues examined. It also contains the date of the test as well as any actions taken by the engineer. It must also include the name, registration number and unique identifier for the engineer who conducted the test. This could be an electronic signature, a scannable identification card, or a payroll number that is unique to the person who performed the test. If the engineer determines that an appliance or flue that is unsafe, they will indicate this on the safety check record. The landlord must then arrange the necessary repairs. If the issue cannot be rectified in a reasonable amount of time, the engineer will disconnect the gas supply. Landlords are required to fulfill a variety of responsibilities to their tenants, and staying up-to-date with regular gas safety checks is one of the most important. Infractions to the rules could result in a fine, or even imprisonment in the event of a fatal accident.