Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe before they put them on the market. This can be accomplished by obtaining the gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What is a gas certificate? Who really needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions in your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, including their make, model and the location of your home. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants when they start their tenure. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still an excellent idea to obtain one every year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it will also help you catch any issues early. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you've taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. In what is gas safety certificate , 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's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
Once the inspection is complete and you're ready to get an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended that this be completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep the copy for yourself and keep the records of any maintenance that was performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
The landlords' properties must be inspected for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with an official certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords are able to check if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to allow the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these situations it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to let an engineer in the property, then the landlord could consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied with an explanation of the reason they're being evicted. For example rent arrears, non-payment or serious damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certification?
Landlords need gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties comply with the laws of the government. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer in their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will help reduce 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 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 of the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. They must also give an applicant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in each room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to every storey of the property. Landlords can obtain more information about these requirements, including free leaflets 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 cannot gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if needed. A notice of section 21 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 records of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord does not follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This means that they need to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This will help avoid any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as dangerous or defective the landlord should have them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety checks. 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 is a good idea for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious action which should only be used in the last option.