April, 2020
The safety of the properties we manage is always of the highest priority to us. During this pandemic, the Government has released guidance on how we can protect both tenants and engineers, required to carry out safety tests in rented properties. Gas Safe and Government guidelines advise that gas safety tests must continue unless the tenants are self-isolating and if so, an appointment be made for a later visit when it is safe to do so. All our gas engineers have been provided with a list of questions to ask the tenant when booking a visit. We have also asked our contractors to confirm they are clear of symptoms themselves.
Propertymark summarise the advice in the following article:
(The full article can be found here https://www.propertymark.co.uk/advice-and-guides/coronavirus-covid-19/gas-and-electric-checks/)
I’m a tenant, what are gas and electrical checks?
Your landlord legally must ensure your heating and electrics are safe by carrying out regular inspections, once a year for your heating and once every five years for your electrics
For your heating, an engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register will visit the property to carry out a gas safety check, which could be described as an MOT but for your boiler. They will do a thorough check of the whole heating system to ensure it’s completely safe and in good working order. Some of the checks include:
Once they are done, they will provide your landlord with a Gas Safety Report confirming all the checks they’ve made and any work that is required for the boiler and heating system to be up to scratch. It’s good practice for you to receive a copy of this, or something similar, from the engineer or your landlord.
The electrical safety check is a new requirement coming into force 1st July 2020 and is to be carried out every five years. Much the same as the gas safety check, an Electrician will carry out a thorough examination of the electrical system in your property and produce an Electrical Safety Report for your landlord.
For both reports, if any faults are found your landlord has 28 days to rectify them, normally with an additional engineer visit.
Carrying out checks or rectifying faults during the coronavirus
If a landlord cannot carry out either the initial checks or the follow-up work, they must demonstrate they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with the law. Government guidance says if landlords can show they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with the regulations, they are not in breach. This includes the duty to carry out remedial work.
It is important for tenants to work with your landlords to ensure that gas and electrical safety checks can go ahead over the coming weeks wherever possible. However, the availability of contractors, any persons involved falling ill or self-isolating or a change in political circumstances could all make that unfeasible. If anyone involved is self-isolating you must let all parties know immediately so any appointments can be rearranged.
If you are a new tenant, landlords must still provide you with all necessary gas and electrical safety certification documents at the beginning of your tenancy, as well as carrying out all scheduled inspections and tests where required. For your safety, where inspections have already been carried out, documents can be provided by post or in some circumstances it may be possible to provide digital copies.
Propertymark also note that tenants will need to remain patient while their Landlord tries to arrange a safe time to carry out any checks and remedial work in the coming weeks or months.
For all lettings and property management enquiries please call and speak to our team on 01452 504813 or email propertymanagement@naylorpowell.com.
