Being a successful landlord isn’t just about renting a great property with low monthly payments. There are also lots of responsibilities to take into account to make sure your tenants are safe and comfortable at all times. This includes making sure every rental property you own has gas-safe appliances and that you’ve been issued a landlord gas safety certificate from an accredited gas engineer company.
At West London Gas, we understand just how important it is for landlords to protect their tenants and stay on the right side of the law. Here’s our guide to landlord gas safety certificates.
Why is gas safety so important?
Before we discuss landlord gas safety certificates, let’s discuss why gas safety is so important for all properties. If gas appliances aren’t checked regularly, your tenants’ safety may be compromised.
One of the biggest safety threats is carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be extremely dangerous. Carbon monoxide is produced by gas-powered appliances, so making sure it doesn’t leak is key to the safety of everyone within a building. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, so always make sure you have a functioning alarm in each of your rental properties.
Unsafe gas appliances can also leak, leaving your property vulnerable to fires and explosions. Preventing this requires regular safety inspections, so make sure you never miss a check.
What are landlord gas safety certificates?
A landlord gas safety certificate is a form of documentation given to landlords following a gas safety inspection. To prove that all gas appliances, flues and fittings within a rental property are safe for use, you must undergo an inspection from an accredited company. This might be a specialist gas and heating company, like us at West London Gas.
Every rental property in the UK must hold an up-to-date gas safety certificate if there are gas appliances inside. These include gas fireplaces, underfloor heating systems, gas heaters and central heating systems. A landlord gas safety inspection must be carried out across all rental properties annually to ensure that all appliances are checked regularly.
Your tenants may have their own gas appliances, such as portable gas heaters, stored in your rental property. It is not your responsibility to check the safety of these appliances, but it may be up to you to check the flue or pipework it’s running from.
Why do landlords need gas safety certificates?
If you’re a busy landlord with lots to think about, you may be wondering if you really need an annual gas safety inspection. The answer is yes – every landlord must have one conducted once a year for every property they rent. The number one reason for this is to ensure the safety of your tenants and anyone living locally, as faulty gas appliances can cause a huge threat if they aren’t repaired or replaced quickly.
But, what about the landlord gas safety certificate? Once you’ve had the inspection, why do you need the certificate? Firstly, holding a certificate means that you’re legally compliant under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations of 1998. If you can’t produce an up-to-date certificate upon request, you could face legal action.
Secondly, holding an up-to-date certificate means you can give a copy to your tenants. All tenants will want to know that they’re living in a safe property and using gas appliances which have been checked over by professionals.
Giving your tenants a copy is not only standard practise – it’s also a legal requirement. To be compliant, give your current tenants a copy of your latest certificate within 28 days of the inspection. If you have new tenants, make sure to share a copy of the latest certificate at the start of their tenancy agreement.
Who can conduct gas safety inspections?
For your landlord gas safety certificate to be valid and legally compliant, the inspection must be carried out by a gas safe professional with the authorisation to do so. This is typically a heating engineer who is trained in the installation, repair and maintenance of gas appliances.
By law, all heating engineers who work with gas appliances must be part of the Gas Safe Register. If you’re looking for a trusted heating contractor to undertake work on your rental property, always find a Gas Safe Register-accredited professional. This is a legal requirement and anyone who cannot prove their accreditation shouldn’t be hired.
The cost of your landlord gas safety inspection will largely depend on the contractors you hire. To make sure you aren’t being overcharged for your inspection, make sure to compare quotes from a range of local contractors.
Who needs a landlord gas safety certificate?
If you run an Airbnb property or a bed and breakfast, you may not consider yourself a landlord. Despite this, you still have a legal obligation to get an annual gas safety inspection. Like private sector landlords, you also need to obtain an up-to-date gas safety certificate if you own:
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Holiday accommodation, including cottages and caravans
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Temporary accommodation types, including hotels and bed and breakfasts
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Residential properties which have been provided by local authorities, including hostels.
If you’re renting out a property for less than 28 days, make sure you display a copy of your landlord gas safety certificate within the premises.
To double-check your responsibilities or to see whether or not the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 apply to you, check the Health and Safety Executive’s website for helpful FAQs.
What happens during a gas safety inspection?
Now you know the importance of having all gas appliances within a rental property checked, you may be wondering what happens during the inspection. There are two main parts to any gas safety inspection:
Checking the safety of gas appliances
The first part of the inspection is the checking of all gas appliances in the rental property. Here, the engineer will check that every gas appliance is properly adjusted (so that the gas is burning correctly) and that it has been fitted securely. This ensures it isn’t going to fall over or wobble, and that it has been connected to the gas pipework correctly. The engineer will also make sure the appliance has been installed in the appropriate room.
Checking the safety of flues, chimneys and air vents
The second part of the inspection checks the safety of the flues and chimneys in a rental property. This is to ensure that there’s a permanent air supply for all appliances and that there’s no chance of gas leaking from the pipework. This could cause carbon monoxide poisoning, so checking the pipework is an integral part of the inspection.
Once these inspections have taken place, your engineer will provide you with a landlord gas safety certificate – evidence that your rental property is considered gas safe.
It’s worth noting that annual gas safety inspections aren’t as comprehensive as gas services, so we’d recommend getting these annually, too. It is a legal requirement for landlords to keep the pipework in all rental properties well-maintained, so book an annual gas service to ensure you’re staying compliant.
West London Gas: Landlord gas safety certificates in West London
At West London Gas, we understand just how important it is for landlords to keep on top of gas safety inspections. That’s why we offer tailored services for landlords in West London, with a comprehensive package catering for everything you need. Whether you want to book your next gas safety inspection or you require an emergency call-out, look no further than West London Gas for a team of highly-qualified engineers you can rely on.
We even offer a Loyalty Card service for landlords, giving you discounted rates for all our services. This ensures you can keep your tenants safe, protect your rental properties and stay compliant without breaking the bank.
To request a landlord gas safety inspection, or for more information about our range of services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at West London Gas. We’re always happy to help.