How You Can Get The Most Out Of Your Gas Safety Check

When it comes to gas, there is no such thing as a second chance, so it is imperative that all landlords (and their rental agents) have the safety of the gas well.

Although most landlords are aware that their properties require a Gas Safety Check from a registered Gas Safe engineer, not everyone knows exactly what this means. Although the use of a registered Gas Safe technician ensures that the correct checks are carried out, keeping up with the process is the only way to ensure that you remain compliant and meet all your obligations, both for your property as for your tenant.

So what needs to be done?

Before the start of each rental period, and thereafter annually, landlords must ensure that a Gas Safe engineer performs the following checks:

• Check the tightness of all gas appliances and fittings.

• Check the gas speed and burner pressure based on the manufacturer's data

plates.

• Check each ventilation opening and flue for adequate ventilation.

• Check the effectiveness of flame failure equipment.

What are your responsibilities for gas safety control?

When you rent a property, it is your own responsibility to ensure that it is safe for everyone who uses it. This includes having annual gas safety checks carried out and ensuring that you always have a valid gas safety certificate. You are required by law to provide tenants with a valid certificate before they move within or within 28 days of doing so. That is why it is always a good idea to keep control and to have an up-to-date gas safety certificate at all times.

Before a gas certificate is issued, a gas safety check is carried out on all gas appliances and installations in the building. If there are problems, they must be dealt with and resolved as quickly as possible. It is important that all gas appliances are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Without a gas safety certificate, you cannot continue to rent the property to tenants.

What happens then?

After the assessment has been carried out, the engineer must record the description and location of each inspected device, chimney or vent, as well as the date on which they were all assessed. The engineer must also register his own name and registration number, as well as the property address and the name and address of their lessor.

Signs of defects or safety issues must be registered. They must then be examined and corrective measures taken or recommended.

The record must be signed and dated.

What should landlords offer tenants?

New tenants must be provided with a copy of the gas safety check record before they move into the premises. Existing tenants must receive a copy of the annual gas safety check within 28 days of the inspection.

A recent update ...

A historic point of concern for landlords and rental agents is the ability of landlords to access the property to perform the gas check within the prescribed annual timeframe. With this in mind, a change was made to the regulations in 2020. Annual safety checks should now be performed between 10-12 months from the point of the previous check, but treated as if the check was performed on the last day of the 12-month period. This gives landlords more time to ensure that the certificate is signed well before the expiration date, despite any problems with access.

Find out more to Click the link Gas Safety Check.