Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able show 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?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to adhere to the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are in good working order within 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 detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your property. The engineer will determine if the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to obtain one annually. Not only will this give you peace of mind regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it will also help you catch any issues before they become serious. This can save you lots of money and hassle in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require additional checks.
Who is in need of a certificate of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances or flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. Ideally, this will be done before your current tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. You should keep an original copy for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your home.
The landlords' properties must be inspected for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't possess a valid gas safety certificate, you could face huge penalties (up to PS6,000), court action from your tenants or even a criminal charge. The greatest risk is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by faulty appliances at your rental property.
gas safe installation certificate who can carry out a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can verify if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is not common for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property in order to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide may be if not detected in time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer into the property and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might consider giving them an Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason for being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their properties that they rent meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to let gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also 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 provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide an applicant a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, including free leaflets as well as 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 conduct the required gas safety checks, they can make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. It is important to keep in mind that a section 21 notice can only be served if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict their tenants by unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must make sure the gas pipes, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by defective equipment. It is crucial that landlords are up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out in a timely manner. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll mean. This can be sent by recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is still refusing to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking additional steps. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious measure that should only be taken only in the case of a last option.