Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property on the market landlords must prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. This is why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who is the one who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are in good working order in your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
While homeowners don't require an Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to get one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can also help you detect any problems early. This can help you save money and time in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can prove that you've taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require additional checks.
Who is in need of a certificate of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You'll need your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is recommended to do this prior to your tenants moving into the property or at the start of any new lease. Keep a copy for yourself and keep the records of any maintenance that was performed on the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords must have their properties examined for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If landlord safety certificate are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest chance is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow a Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might consider giving them a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation as to why they're being evicted. For example rent arrears, non-payment or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with government regulations. However, some tenants might refuse to let a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and only need to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also commonly known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. how much gas safety certificate will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, including free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property in order to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If the landlord does not follow the correct procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they must have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This will help stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords are up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety check was completed in a timely manner. They can prove this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is an ideal idea to ask the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they'll entail. This letter could be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant will be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. But, this is a very serious option that should only be taken as an option last resort.