Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to remember that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety inspection. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their properties are safe prior to putting them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good working order. That's why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? 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 make sure that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions within your rental property to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their make, model and the location of your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work needed to ensure your tenants' safety.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they begin their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you catch any problems early on. This could help you save time and money in the long in the long.
If you're considering selling your house and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is working properly.
After the inspection has been completed, you'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done before your tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new lease. You should keep a copy for yourself as well as the records of any maintenance that was done to the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to heavy penalties (upto PS6,000), legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. look at this now can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, that has unique holograms on it.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to allow the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide can be very hazardous if not discovered in time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer in, then the landlord may consider giving them an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation of why they're being evicted. For example rent arrears, non-payment or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may not allow gas engineers into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not spying and are only required to complete an important legally required piece of documentation. This will decrease the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is confident that all appliances are safe to use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also commonly known as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. Landlords can obtain 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 to carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to expel the tenants, if appropriate. A section 21 notice 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 the landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants unlawfully, they may be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This will stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must prove that their annual gas safety test was completed on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It may 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 to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are required and what they'll mean. This letter could be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give the landlord access they should take further action. This might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be considered as an option last resort.