Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property for sale landlords must prove that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations 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 certification? Who is the one 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 thorough inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make and model, as well as the location of your home. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that needs to be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You must also give it to new tenants once they start their tenure. If you don't comply, you could face charges or fines.
While homeowners don't require an Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one on an annual basis. This will not just put your mind at rest about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but help you identify any issues early. This can help you save money and hassle in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you've taken good care of all gas appliances and installations. It will also speed up the conveyancing as it does not require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your duty to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
Once the inspection is complete, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be done before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new tenancies. gas safe certificate check is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself along with any records of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their homes inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are available to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have an official certificate of gas safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant risk is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who are qualified to conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they have been properly trained to inspect and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has a unique hologram on it.
It is very rare for a tenant to let access to the rental property to perform the Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant why this is a mandatory obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide can be if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property, then the landlord may be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be accompanied by an explanation as to why they're being removed. For example the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove that their rented properties meet government regulations. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer to enter their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required access to their homes in order to complete a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant 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 the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. 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 provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed and give a new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should also make sure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free brochures and 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 conduct the required gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if needed. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure for entry and then tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they should ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They could be fined when they don't.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that their annual gas safety check has been carried out on time. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances show as dangerous or defective the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have difficulty convincing their tenants to let them access the house for gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to send an explicit letter stating the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll mean. This letter could be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. However, this is a serious decision that should only be considered as an option last option.