Loveitts are
constantly keeping up to date with the important aspect of what can and cannot
be done during these unprecedented times and the outbreak of Covid 19. Below is
clear guidance from ARLA Propertymark:
If you are a
landlord or if you are renting and expecting a gas safety check or a new
electrical safety check in the coming weeks, you may be unsure whether it
should go ahead. The UK Government has now released new guidance for
landlords, tenants and local authorities regarding gas and electric checks
during the outbreak of Coronavirus. This guidance explains the steps landlords
will need to take to ensure they meet their legal obligations and makes it
clear how tenants can help.
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:
- Testing the heating system pressure
- Examining the flue or chimney connected to the boiler
- Ensuring the boiler is properly set up and gas is burning
correctly
- Inspecting all the gas pipework
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.
The Government is
encouraging local authorities to take a pragmatic, common-sense approach to
enforcement in these unprecedented times. 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.
If you require any
further information or guidance please contact Paul Barnes on 024 76228 111.