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Landlord Gas Safety Certificates – Common Mistakes Landlords Make Landlord gas certificates help landlords to adhere to the law while safeguarding their tenants. These checks reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, by identifying faulty appliances, flues and pipework that must be fixed. These checks are usually performed by a Gas Safe engineer and can be completed in a short time. They are also easy to manage with digital tools that are integrated into full job management systems. Requirements Landlords are required to provide gas safety certificates. They also have to ensure that tenants are able to access a qualified engineer for a check. The best method to accomplish this is to include an agreement in the tenancy agreement which states that the property will be accessible for Gas Safety checks. This will also convey to the tenant that if they do not allow access the landlord will take the appropriate steps to enforce the rules. Landlords are required to ensure that their properties are registered with a valid CP12 certificate, which is valid for 12 months. It is a good idea to renew it on the same day as the previous one expires so that you don't waste days when the old and new certificates are in conflict. A recent amendment to the legislation has given landlords increased flexibility over when they carry out their inspections, however it is important to remember that this change does not mean that landlords will be able to reduce the length of their annual inspections. It is also important to keep in mind that only an engineer who has been registered with Gas Safe Register is legally allowed to work on gas piping and appliances and flues and chimneys. If a landlord employs an engineer who is not registered, they could be liable for a criminal offence. If a tenant is unwilling to permit access to the annual Gas Safety Check, the landlord has to send them a clearly worded letter stating why they need 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. It's also recommended to put up inspection hatches inside the property so that the engineer can check for gas leaks and ensure that the appliance shut-off valve is working. Tenants are responsible for their actions It's your job to ensure that the gas lines in your apartment are secure. You could cause your tenants to suffer injuries if you do not take the necessary steps. To ensure the safety of tenants, you should have your NYC apartment's gas inspection done by a qualified engineer. It is also important to ensure that your tenants are able to easily access the gas supply. If you're not sure about your obligations, you should contact a New York Apartment Fire Injury Lawyer immediately. It's important that you give your tenants the landlord gas safety certificate at the beginning of their tenancy or as shortly after the inspection as is possible. It should be displayed prominently in the building. If you are the manager of an apartment building that shares appliances, you might want to divide the appliances and flues into separate parts so that each section receives their 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 privacy or because they're involved in an argument with the landlord. Make sure to remind them that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas and it's your legal responsibility to ensure their safety. If your tenants aren't ready to let the gas company to carry out the test, it's worth including the clause in their lease that requires them to grant access to the gas operative for maintenance or safety inspections. The tenancy contract should define the conditions for when you can cut off gas supply and when this is permitted. You should also provide the operative with a way to identify him or his/herself, for example a scan of a signature or a unique payroll number to them or an employee ID. Accessible Every property with gas appliances such as a boiler should be equipped with a gas safety certificate. If a landlord does not renew the certificate, they can face massive fines and the risk of making their tenants uncomfortable. To avoid this, it is essential that landlords keep their certificates up-to-date by booking an annual check of their tenants gas. The cost of a gas safety test is determined by a number of different factors, including the location of the property and the number of gas appliances it houses. 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 employed. Tenants must be provided by landlords with a copy of their gas safety record, which is commonly known as a CP12. The document must be handed out to tenants in the 28 days of the inspection being completed, and new tenants should receive it within 28 days after moving into the property. The landlord must display a copy of CP12 at 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 that they have access to the property and any appliances owned by them are not connected to mains gas. They should also look for clunking sounds, black marks on appliances, or other indications of a problem with the gas system. If they observe any of these signs they should inform the landlord immediately. If a landlord isn't in a position to gain access to the property to conduct a gas safety inspection and is unable to do so, they must prove that they took all reasonable steps' to be in compliance with the law. This could mean retrying to conduct the checks, and writing to the tenant to explain that the safety checks are legally required to ensure their security. Expiry date It is essential that landlords have their gas safety certificates up to date. Failure to do so could cause unexpected hazards for tenants, and could lead to penalties from regulators. Failure to renew a certificate in time can also cause a landlord's insurance to be cancelled. It can be difficult to navigate the complicated regulations governing these certificates. There are how long does gas safety certificate last that landlords make when conducting these checks, and they should be aware of these to avoid making them. Landlords are legally obliged to arrange annual gas safety tests of all the appliances on site and flues. They must also provide copies to tenants who have rented the property within 28 days of the test, and to new tenants at the start of their tenure. They must also place a copy of the test in a prominent location at the property. Landlords are required to keep records for these tests for at least two years. Since the 6th of April, 2018 the regulations have been amended to allow landlords more flexibility in scheduling their gas safety inspections. This change allows landlords to have their gas safety checks carried out up to two months prior to the due date, but still preserving the expiry date of the check. However, it is still important to make sure that a check is scheduled early enough before the date of expiry, and not to presume that there is a grace time. If a landlord fails to conduct a gas safety inspection completed prior to their current certificate expires date, they will not be able to rent out their properties until the new checks are conducted. Landlords need to be aware that this is a grave violation of regulations and they could be subject to significant fines. Recommendations As landlords, you should make sure your gas safety certificate is up-to-date at all times. Keep copies of prior certificates for at least two years. You should look around for the best price. Prices may vary. During the inspection the engineer will issue you with a completed Landlord Gas Safety Record. This document is essential to give to new tenants prior to their move-in, and to prove compliance with the legal requirements. The document contains an explanation of each gas appliances tested and their places of operation. It also includes the test dates and any actions taken by the engineer. It should also include the name, registration number and unique identifier of the engineer who performed the test. This could be an electronic signature, a scanned identification card, or a payroll number that is unique to the operative. If the engineer discovers an appliance or flue to be unsafe, they will note this on the safety inspection record. The landlord is then required to make the necessary repairs. If the issue is not fixed within a reasonable amount of time, the engineer will cut off the gas supply. Landlords have many obligations to their tenants, and keeping up to date with regular gas safety checks is one of the most important. If a fatal incident occurs the landlord who is not in compliance with regulations could be penalized or even jailed.