Changes to Gas Safety Rules April 2018

March 29, 2018 3:32 pm

We are expecting some very! welcome changes to the gas safety rules for landlords to come in to force in early April 2018.

Landlords will no longer have to wait until the last minute to complete their gas safety certificates (CP12) or have to shorten the annual cycle check to comply with the law.

Landlords Can Now Complete Their Gas Safety Record Up To 2 Months Early

Instead of having a safety record running between specific annual dates. A new MOT-style check will allow landlords to have the certificate completed up to two months before the due date but keep the same annual check date.

The renewal date is known as the “deadline date” in the amended regulations. If a gas safety record is done no more than 2 months before the 12 months deadline date. It’s treated as though it were done on the deadline date (although both dates should be recorded so an audit trail can be shown).

“This avoids landlords waiting until the last minute and not gaining access or having to shorten the annual cycle check to comply with the law,” . Says the Health and Safety Executive, the agency responsible for enforcing gas safety laws.

 Example:-

An engineer completes a gas safety record on 10 February 2018, which means the next check is due by 10 February 2019 (the “deadline date”). On 5 January 2019, the next gas safety record is completed (about 5 weeks early). The next check will be due on 10 February 2020 despite being done early. Because the deadline date has been retained under the new legislation. Under the previous rules using this example, the next record would have been due on 5 January 2020.

Resetting the clock

It’s important to remember there is only a two-month window to complete the check early.

If the gas safety check is carried out at less than 10 months following the previous gas safety check. This will have the effect of “resetting the clock” and the deadline date will now be 12 months from the date of this latest check.

Likewise, if the gas safety check is carried out more than 12-months after the previous gas safety check. This will have the effect of re-setting the clock and the new deadline date will be 12 months from the date of this, later, gas safety check.

Replacement of individual appliances

In addition to this change, changes are also made if an individual appliance is replaced in a property. A new CP12 should be completed as well as any relevant benchmark or manufacturers paperwork.

The new rules do not change a landlord’s obligation to carry out an annual gas safety check.

These new rules are going to massively helpful to larger portfolio landlords.

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