Are you concerned about gas safety for your rented property?
As a landlord, you have a responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances are safe for tenants who are staying in your property, yet I still have a lot of clients who (quite worryingly) aren’t always aware of what’s required of them.
One of the most popular examples is when a couple own a property their child chooses to stay in while at university. Usually a friend stays with them to help cover all the costs, and it all seems very cosy and friendly. Unfortunately, the parents aren’t always aware that an annual CP12 certificate is mandatory.
Which is why below, I’ve used my own experience as a heating engineer to list some of the best practices for landlords concerning gas safety in rented properties.
Best practice 1: Always check the Gas Safe register
The law states that any person fitting or servicing gas appliances (including boilers, ovens and gas fires) must be Gas Safe registered. You can check this by visiting the Gas Safe register – it also allows you to check the type of work they are qualified to do.
For more advice on choosing a heating engineer to install, repair or service your boiler, read my blog post ‘Landlords: Help When Choosing your Next Boiler Installer’.
Best practice 2: Request your annual CP12 certificate
If you are letting a property – including just letting out a room or renting to a relative – you must have a Gas Safety CP12 certificate every year, and keep a copy of this for two years.
Copies also need to be sent to the estate agent, tenant and gas company. This is a mandatory requirement.
Best practice 3: Locate your ECV emergency control valve
You should know exactly where the ECV emergency control valve is located in the property in case of emergencies. This is essentially a shut down lever next to the gas meter which pulls down to the closed position.
It works as a safety mechanism to control the flow of gas, so that it can be switched off if anything were to go wrong, or if there is currently no gas meter installed.
Need more advice?
If you’re in any doubt about anything related to gas safety in your rental property, call a reputable gas specialist heating engineer who will be able to answer any questions or concerns. If they don’t have time to discuss the regulations or requirements, simply move onto the next company.
I’ve also written some other blog posts you may find helpful, including:
- 6 Important Facts About the New and Existing Regulations on Gas Appliances for Landlords
- No Hot Water or Central Heating? The Problem-Solving Landlord’s Checklist
- A Landlord’s Guide to Boiler Replacement: Fast and on a Budget
- Landlords: What to Do When Your Letting Agent Says You Need a New Boiler
- Landlords: Find Out if You Can Receive Financial Help for Your Next Boiler
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found the advice in this blog helpful, and remember:
- Always check the Gas Safe Register
- Request your annual CP12 certificate
- Locate your ECV emergency control valve
If you have any questions or are concerned about gas safety in your rented property, feel free to leave a question in the comments or give me a call directly. I’ll do my utmost to answer as quickly as possible.
