Gas safety in privately rented property
Supporting information for Scottish Landlord Registration
Key points
Landlords have three main legal responsibilities;
- to carry our gas safety checks every year,
- to provide the tenant with a copy of the annual gas safety certificate and
- to ensure the continued safety of the pipework, appliances and flues by carry out maintenance work
Gas Safety Checks
A gas safety certificate should be provided to new tenant no later than the start date of their tenancy. Existing tenants within 28 days of completion.
You’ll need to keep copies of the record for at least 2 years.
Where a gas safety check is carried out less than 10 months or more than 12 months after the previous gas safety check this will have the effect of ‘resetting the clock’ and the new deadline date will now be 12 months from the date of this latest gas safety check.
Landlords are not responsible for safety checks on gas appliances owned by the tenant or any flues that solely connects to tenants own gas appliances
Gas Safety Certificate
Regulations introduced in April 2018 allow a landlord to arrange for a gas safety check to be carried out any time from 10-12 calendar months after the previous check whilst still preserving the original check expiry date.
The Tolerable Standard is a basic level of repair your property must meet to make it fit for a person to live in.
If you have benefited from the new regulations allowing flexibility in timing of gas safety checks, records must be kept until two further gas safety checks have been carried out.
Maintenance
Gas pipework, appliances and chimney/flues need to be maintained in a safe condition.
Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the frequency given in the manufacturer’s instructions. If these are not available, annual servicing is recommended unless advised otherwise by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Any gas appliances owned by tenants are not the landlord’s responsibility, however the connecting pipework and flue (if not solely connected to the tenant’s appliance) remains the responsibility of the landlord to maintain.
Further details about landlords legal obligations on all gas safety matters can be found at Gas Safe Register – information for landlords.
Maximise your Success as a Landlord
LAS run a regular programme of training courses helping landlords adopt best practice and remain updated with changes to legislation. Anyone involved in letting property in the private rented sector in Scotland is welcome to attend. You do not need to be accredited.