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Many landlords struggle carrying out the annual gas safety checks where tenants occupy their rented properties. The most common cause of these checks being avoided or being completed late is tenant’s not allowing access to the property.
Even though these checks not being carried out are directly a result of the tenant, the onus will still lay with the landlord as it is your responsibility to ensure your properties are safe and legal.
We felt it was benificial to give you some tips on how to tackle those awkward and unhelpful tenants.
1. Introduce a 10 month gas safety programme (meaning that your tenants have their gas safety checks every 10 months) – this will buy you some time to get access to the more stubborn offenders. Therefore you should always be ahead of the annual check rather than behind, therefore minimizing the risk.
2. You can use the legal powers written up in the tenancy agreement; in this document you should always state that access to the property for annual checks is a necessity and should the agreement not be adhered too and access given forced entry to the property will take place. As the tenancy document is a legal agreement you are able to issue clauses in this such as a possible prosecution should this be breached.
3. Step up your communication with your tenants regarding the benefit to them and to their neighbours in gaining access for gas safety checks. Inform them that, if they failed to let you in on time, you would force entry.
4. Introduce an annual home visit programme –visit every single tenant at least once every single year. This will enable you to get to know our tenants well – including those whose vulnerability might mean that we would have difficulty in gaining access for the gas safety check. Keep in contact with such tenants more frequently so that they are comfortable and happy knowing what needs to happen and when.
If you are to follow these simple steps it is likely you will be able to achieve 100% of your annual gas safety checks on time. As the landlord you are responsible to the safety of the tenant in your property, it’s so important to make sure you are doing everything in your power to maintain the gas appliances in your properties.
As a part of the 360® management service we offer for all compliance requirements. We are able to complete all the above for you. We can ensure all checks are carried out on time, we can develop a relationship with the tenant if you require us to do so on your behalf, therefore making sure our needs are communicated to the tenant regularly to avoid any issues with access.
If you need assistance with your properties Absolute Property Services are able to offer you complete peace of mind that you, your properties and your tenants are being looked after.
For more information please call our office 01733 375900 or email sales@absolutepsg.co.uk
