As a landlord, regardless of whether it is domestic or commercial, the property you let out has to be up to a certain standard. A gas safety certificate is one of those essential tasks all landlords must complete to make their properties legal and habitable for tenants. For anyone in this position looking for more information, this guide covers the basics of what and why to keep you informed.
What’s It All About?
A Gas Safety Certificate is a document that says the property is up to date with its regulations regarding all the gas appliances within. It covers gas pipes and any flues as well, so every single thing that might be a hazard is looked over. Legally, a Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords has to be updated once a year. This is not a job you can do yourself, therefore the task must be completed by a gas engineer.
Why Is It Necessary?
Gas appliances are a big fire risk and therefore a danger to life if they are not serviced and maintained properly. If something goes wrong with one of the gas outputs, the house, and surrounding areas are at risk of explosion and loss of life or severe injury. While this is the extreme end of the scale, household gas, if leaking, can also cause physical sickness too. It is something that must be handled carefully and always considered as high risk, and therefore need extra care and attention. There are always going to be concerns in the rental sector around landlord ‘neglect’. This is not an area up for negotiation. There are clear regulations from the government to be followed in order for a property to be deemed safe.
What Happens During a Gas Safety Inspection?
A trained engineer will attend the property. During the inspection they will:
- Observe all of the gas appliances and check for any obvious visual wear and tear.
- Conduct a tightness test to highlight whether or not there are any noticeable gas leaks that need addressing.
- Verify safety devices are in place.
- Look at the boiler flue.
- Take and record the gas pressure figure.
- Check all of the ventilation outlets.
If they are satisfied with all the small details, a certificate will be issued. If not, it is time for some repairs. It is a fairly straightforward job for any trained engineer, taking less than an hour to complete, but a vital one nevertheless.
The Role of the Landlord in All of This
As a landlord, the responsibility lies with you to get this job booked and sorted out. As long as the gas check falls within twelve months of the previous one, everything will remain legal. If your property has tenants inside of it, you legally have to give them at least 24 hours’ notice that a safety check will be taking place. They will also need a copy of this certificate for their records when the process is completed.
Landlords need a gas safety certificate for their property. Not only is it the law, but it is also a moral obligation too. Ensuring the tenants are safe gives you all peace of mind.
