If you rent out a property, such as residential dwelling, room to let or rental holiday accommodation that is subject to lease or licence agreement, you are responsible for your properties and have a duty of care to your tenants. As part of this responsibility, you have to ensure that your gas safety checks are in place and up to date.
What are my gas safety responsibilities as a landlord?
As a landlord, you are obligated to adhere to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR). These regulations clearly state your duties in ensuring the safety and optimal functionality of all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys, and flues within your property. If you choose to rent out a property that includes gas appliances, you have three main responsibilities:
Gas safety checks
Annual gas safety checks are mandatory and must be conducted by a qualified Gas Safe Engineer. These inspections are required to assess the safety and functionality of all gas appliances, pipes, and flues that are part of the property.
Following the inspection, you will receive a certificate, which must be shared with your tenants within 28 days.
You can arrange for a gas safety check to be carried out any time from 10-12 months after the last completed check, without affecting the original expected expiry date.
Appliances owned by your tenants are not your responsibility, although you will still need to ensure the safety of any connecting flues, unless they’re solely connected to the tenants’ appliance.
Installation pipework isn’t legally required to be checked as part of the yearly gas safety check. However it is recommended by both the Gas Safe Register and the HSE to ask your Gas Safe registered engineer to test for tightness on the whole gas system, including installation pipework; and visually examine the pipework as much as possible.
There are no legal requirements that state you must keep these maintenance records, but you are required to prove that you have maintained the pipework, appliances and flues and completed any required repairs.
Gas Safety Record
By law, you are required to give a copy of your Landlord Gas Safety Record to your tenants within 28 days of the gas safety check.
You don’t need to do a gas safety check for each new tenant, however you do need to provide a copy of the most recent certificate at the start of each new tenancy.
For rental periods of less than 28 days, ensure that the copy of your gas safety record is clearly displayed within the property. You’ll need to keep copies of this gas safety check record until two more gas safety checks have been performed.
Maintenance
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas pipework, appliances, chimneys and flues are kept in a safe condition.
Unless the manufacturer guidelines state otherwise, we would suggest servicing your gas appliances once a year.
Carbon monoxide alarms and landlord responsibilities
Following the passing of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations, as of October 2022, a Carbon Monoxide alarm is now required to be fitted in every habitable room of a rental property that contains gas appliances, excluding appliances used for cooking.
As a landlord, you are required to test all carbon monoxide alarms in the property to ensure that they are working on the day that a new tenancy begins.
Always make sure a carbon monoxide alarm complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark, before purchasing. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations about how to fit and test your alarm to ensure that it is working correctly, and that the batteries are in a good condition.
How GreenSmart can help
At GreenSmart we have a team of qualified Gas Safe registered engineers that are able to complete your checks and provide your gas safety record. Find out more about our Landlord Gas Safety service or contact us today to speak to one of the team and discuss your requirements.
