If you’re a homeowner, you can easily arrange a boiler service and other gas safety checks – but if you’re a tenant, it can be a little tricky. Most landlords are on the ball when it comes to protecting their occupants, but you must choose a gas safe property – here’s how.
Ask to see the landlord’s gas safety record Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must have all appliances inspected annually – so ask to see the CP12 certificate (issued after a successful safety check). Landlords are required to hold onto this certificate for two years and should provide a copy to all tenants within 28 days of the check being completed. If there’s no documentation, you might want to look elsewhere.
Ask to see the landlord’s gas safety record Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must have all appliances inspected annually – so ask to see the CP12 certificate (issued after a successful safety check). Landlords are required to hold onto this certificate for two years and should provide a copy to all tenants within 28 days of the check being completed. If there’s no documentation, you might want to look elsewhere.
Speak to existing tenants If possible, speak to the existing tenants before signing a contract. They should be able to tell you what the homeowner’s like and if there’s been any issues. Ask if the gas appliances work and if they’ve been maintained (as you could get some interesting answers). Your questions might seem a little probing, but they could help you to find a decent place to live.
Inspect the property yourself After meeting the landlord and the tenants, take your time to inspect the property. Browse around each room and look for black stains and condensation around gas appliances. Check that all gas flames are crisp and blue (not weak and yellow) and ensure there’s nothing in front of gas-powered fires. If you do notice a problem, tell the person showing you around as a central heating service could be necessary.
Check for carbon monoxide alarms Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty, damaged or poorly installed appliances, so look for CO alarms dotted around the house. There should be one on every floor as they’ll signal a warning noise if something’s wrong. If there are no detectors around, ask for the landlord to install a few before you commit to a tenancy agreement. Your health comes first, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and make requests.
Look for a safe and secure property and enjoy your new home.
Inspect the property yourself After meeting the landlord and the tenants, take your time to inspect the property. Browse around each room and look for black stains and condensation around gas appliances. Check that all gas flames are crisp and blue (not weak and yellow) and ensure there’s nothing in front of gas-powered fires. If you do notice a problem, tell the person showing you around as a central heating service could be necessary.
Check for carbon monoxide alarms Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty, damaged or poorly installed appliances, so look for CO alarms dotted around the house. There should be one on every floor as they’ll signal a warning noise if something’s wrong. If there are no detectors around, ask for the landlord to install a few before you commit to a tenancy agreement. Your health comes first, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and make requests.
Look for a safe and secure property and enjoy your new home.
2 comments:
This a great post – thanks for publishing it. On a side note does anyone know about the Bankers life and casualty company . I heard they have good products for life insurance & annuities and they have local agents who help in retirement planning. Any feedback about them is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for this wonderful post. These steps should be practiced tenants-to-be especially if there are kids. And this is just one aspect to check. There are still so many to check before signing the contract. These include the neighborhood, sewerage system, electric system, and house materials.
Best regards,
Belinda
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