Gas Safety Certificate, If you’re renting a property, you’re required to ensure that the property is secure to your renters. The landlord is legally required to get certain certifications to ensure the safety of their tenants as well as the security of their property in addition to their own security.
With this in mind in this article, we’ll go over the top essential security cp12 gas safety certificate landlords generally require. Before you take any action take note that the necessary certificates could differ across various UK nations, which is why it is important to double-check the law applicable to the area that you have your property rental. If you employ an agent who manages the property you own, then you may be interested in determining whether they offer all the necessary certificates in their service.
Landlord Gas Safety Record:
An Landlord Gas Safety Record document indicates that a registered Gas Safe engineer has completed the work on your property. The work may include inspecting the boiler or gas pipes as well as any gas appliances to ensure they are safe. It’s a legal requirement that landlords to conduct an annual gas safety inspection for all gas appliances within your rental home. The results of these checks are documented in the Landlord Gas Safety Record documentation and a copy of it will be delivered to you.
Once you’ve been issued an Landlord Gas Safety Record, you need to give a copy to your tenants who are currently renting within 28 days from the gas safety inspection. If you are a new tenant, you’ll be required to give this information at the beginning of their tenure. Find out more about the obligations you have as landlord with regards in relation to the gas supply on the Gas Safe Register website.
Electric Installation Condition Report (EICR):
Landlords are required to make their rental homes electrically secure and it is recommended that electrical wiring in rental properties are inspected by a licensed person, for example, an accredited electrician at least each five years. The electrician will look over everything from the sockets and plugs within the building to the light switches and the fuse box. They will provide the Electric Installation Condition Report (EICR) after the inspection. It will declare that the system to be safe for use for the duration of time or identify areas that require repair or improvements which need to be done.
Landlords are required to provide an electronic copy of the EICR to tenants who are currently in the premises within 28 days after the date of the inspection as well as to prospective tenants prior to when they take over the premises. If the report identifies an obligation for remedial work or a further investigation, landlords are required to inform their tenants as well as the appropriate local authority with a written acknowledgement that the work was completed, Gas Safety Certificate.
Find out more information about these legal obligations by visiting websites of the UK, Scottish and Welsh government websites.
Testing of portable appliances (PAT):
If there are any portable appliances in the house like a fridge microwave, kettle or lamp The UK government advises landlords to hire an electrician to conduct regular tests for portable appliances (PAT) and provide tenants with a log of any inspections conducted. The electrician will give an PAT report that will provide the test’s results and will include a clear mark of pass or fail for every appliance. It will provide the date of inspection, which test the next one is scheduled and the signature of the inspector.
EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC):
Energy performance certificates indicate how the energy efficiency of a house is, using the simple scale of A-G with ‘A’ being the most efficient, and ‘G’ being the least efficient. Each rental property has to be rated at minimum “D”. Energy performance certificates last for a period of 10 years, but should you perform work likely to have an enormous impact on your property’s energy efficiency, such as upgrading windows from single to double-glazed or installing double-glazed windows, you may want to have a new certificate issued to reflect the updated rating. For more information read the guidelines issued by the government regarding energy efficiency requirements for residential rentals and non-domestic rental properties.
Legionella risk assessment:
Legionella bacteria can trigger Legionnaires disease, which is an extremely serious lung infection that is caused by breathing in bacteria that is present in pipes, vents or air conditioning systems. It is essential that landlords conduct an assessment of the risk for legionella bacteria prior to letting the property. While it’s not mandatory to document the results of any examination and the actions implemented in the assessment, it is recommended by the Health and Safety Executive says it’s an excellent idea to record the findings of landlords to serve their own needs.
Houses that are in multi-occupation:
The term “house in multiple occupancy” (HMO) can be described as a home that is shared by at least three individuals who are not part of one household. If you are planning to rent your home for use as one of the HMO there are additional conditions you must think about. This could include documents regarding emergency lighting and fire regulations. In certain circumstances, you may require an HMO license. You can learn more information about HMO license conditions within England as well Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the UK government’s website.
Since HMO law is a tangled subject, you must verify for the particular legal rules applicable for your property as well as the region that it is located in by contacting the authorities in the area. The guide of the government on private rental is a great source of information.
How do you manage taxes as a landlord?
If you’re thinking how to handle your taxes as a landlord Free Agent can assist. We’re developing a brand-new edition of our award-winning software for accounting specially designed for landlords. Beginning in 2023, Free Agent for Landlords will help you prepare for the launch in 2023 of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income Tax which will impact all those who earn an income from properties.
Find out more information about Free Agent for Landlords here and sign up to declare your interest. You’ll be among the first to be informed when it’s time to sign up. You can also talk with your accountant regarding early access. Read more
