Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to keep in mind that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property on the market landlords must demonstrate that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done by obtaining the gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord, or a homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages of your home are clean to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, brand and location within your property. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information on any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You must also give it to new tenants when they start their tenure. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one each year. This will not just put your mind at rest about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you identify any problems early. This could help you save money and stress in the long term.
If you're thinking of selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can accelerate the process of selling since it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who needs a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. You should also keep the certificate for yourself along with any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without an official certificate of gas safety, you could face massive fines (upto PS6,000), legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The most significant danger is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant to allow access to the rental property to perform an Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In next page is crucial for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if not detected at the right time.
If the tenant is unwilling to let an engineer in the property, then the landlord could be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason for being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords must try to communicate to their tenants that gas technicians are not spies and only need access to complete a vital legally-required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after he has completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12 that 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 provide their current tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. The landlord must also provide a new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used for living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, such as free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they can use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept records of those attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason and is accused of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. This means they have to regularly check with a registered gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by faulty appliances, while also aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must be able to show that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out on time. This can be done by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest 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 fixed immediately to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it would violate their privacy, or are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they'll mean. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to give the landlord access they must take further steps. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious action that should only be considered in the last option.