Landlord Gas Safety Certificate – Landlord Responsibilities & Liability
Modern gas heating is one of the safest, most cost-effective and convenient ways of heating a home. However, it does require some simple maintenance to ensure it continues to be safe.
A landlord gas safety certificate is a document obtained by the landlord to prove that a gas appliance has been routinely checked for safety.
Why do I need a landlord gas safety certificate?
A faulty gas installation can be incredibly dangerous. Carbon monoxide can cause many health problems and can even be fatal, and as it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the home is safe to occupy, it is also their responsibility to make sure any gas appliances in the home are working correctly. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 state that the landlord is responsible for the maintenance and continued safety of any gas installation, pipework and flues in the home.
Additionally, under Statutory Instrument SI.534 of 2008 Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, the landlord must obtain a landlord gas safety certificate annually to show that any gas installation (including LPG appliances) or flue in the home is in good repair, and safe to use.
By law, new gas appliances in a rented home should be checked for safety within 12 months of installation, and then serviced and checked for safety on an annual basis.
How can I obtain a landlord gas safety certificate?
A landlord gas safety certificate can only legally be obtained from qualified, registered Gas Safe engineers after they have checked the installation and/or flue for safety. A copy of the gas safety certificate should then be given to the tenants for their records within four weeks of the check, and any new tenants should be provided with a copy before they move in. The landlord should retain the gas certificate for a minimum of two years as proof that they are fulfilling their legal obligation.
What about tenant-owned appliances?
If the tenants have bought a gas appliance of their own, such as a cooker or heater, the landlord is not responsible for it – however, they are responsible for it’s proper installation. It is considered good practice to send an annual reminder to the tenant to remind them to have the appliance checked and serviced, and if possible, offer to include them in any gas safety maintenance carried out. Many landlords choose to have some kind of regulation on tenant-provided gas installations within the tenancy agreement, to avoid any confusion or risk of unsafe installations later on.
What about carbon monoxide alarms? Should the landlord provide these?
By law, the landlord does not have to provide carbon monoxide alarms in the homes they are letting. However, it is good practice to do so, and as carbon monoxide alarms are relatively cheap (usually less than €50), it can be a very affordable way to ensure the safety of the home – and the tenants.