Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipework as well as the flues, appliances and appliances in their properties are safe before putting them on the market. This can be done by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you have to follow the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. That's why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas certificate? Who is the one who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name 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 ensure that the ventilation passages of your properties are clear to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the inspected gas appliances and installations, along with their model, make and location within your home. The engineer will also state whether they believe the appliances to be safe to use or not, and will detail any work that needs to be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. It is also required to provide it to tenants who are new when they start their tenancy. If gas safety certificate what is checked fail to comply with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to get one every year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you catch any problems early on. This could save you a lot of money and stress in the long term.
If you're planning to sell your house and are thinking of selling it, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require any additional checks.
Who needs a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
After the inspection has been completed and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this before your tenants move in, or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep an original copy for yourself as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords must have their properties examined for gas safety at least once every 12months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to severe penalties (upto PS6,000), legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest chance is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has a unique hologram on it.
It is very rare for a tenant to allow access to the rental property to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to let an engineer into their home The landlord should consider giving them the Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be accompanied by a description of the reason for being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair to landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to access their homes to sign a 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 when he has completed the necessary checks. It is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. They must also give an applicant an original copy when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can get more information about 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 in order to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to expel the tenants, if appropriate. A notice under 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 those attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully, they may be found guilty of harassing and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. This means they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must show that their annual gas safety check was carried out on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to let them access the house for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter in which he explains why the gas safety check is needed and what it will involve. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery, and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is still refusing to let the landlord access then they should consider taking additional steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to grant access. But, this is a very serious option that should only be taken as a last resort.