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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 lease rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you need to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working order. This is why every property owner should be issued a gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs 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 exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages in your properties are clear to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
Milton Keynes Gas Safety 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 the gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make, model and location within your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one each year. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it will also help you catch any issues early. This can save you a lot of money and stress in the long run.
If you're considering selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will expedite the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
You'll need your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is best to have this completed before your new tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself as well as any records of maintenance performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess an official gas safety certificate, you could face hefty fines (up to a maximum of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or even an indictment. The most significant danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can carry out a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord explains to the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may 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 a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied with an explanation of the reason they're being removed. For instance the non-payment of rent, or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with government regulations. However, some tenants might refuse to let a gas engineer into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords must try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers aren't agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have completed the necessary checks. This document is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must also make sure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets and 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 inspections, they may make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. 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 a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally and is found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This means that they must to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.
This can help prevent accidents or fires that could be caused by faulty appliances, while also reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is needed and what it will involve. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give access to the landlord, they should take further steps. This might include writing an 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 only in the case of a last resort.