Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must prove that the pipes, appliances and flues in their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be accomplished by obtaining the gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also test that the vents in your property are free of obstruction to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, make, and location in your home. The engineer will then state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and detail any work that needs to be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one annually. This will not only set your mind at ease about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long in the long.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional inspections.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for mkgassafety your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating properly.
You'll need your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done ideally before your tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancy. You should keep an original copy for yourself and keep records of any maintenance carried out on gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
The only person who are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they have been properly trained to inspect gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
While it's uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why this is a legal requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer in, then the landlord may consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied by a description of the reason for being forced out for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords must have gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties comply with the laws of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not spying and are only required to complete an essential legally-required piece of documentation. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. It is also referred to as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was the Council for Registered Gas Installers until it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009.
The landlord must give an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will be provided with an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each storey of the property. Landlords can find more information on these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if needed. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and then tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulators.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents that may be caused by defective appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords stay up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined if they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to grant access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to give the landlord access they must take further steps. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force them to allow access. This is a serious action which should only be used in the last option.