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Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must demonstrate that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by obtaining the gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working in good working order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive examination of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are in good working order in your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the inspected gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, brand and the location of your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information on any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your current tenants within 28 days of the service and give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only put your mind at rest about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any issues early. This can help you save time and money in the long in the long.
If you're planning to sell your house, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will accelerate the process of selling since it doesn't require additional inspections.
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 that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this prior to your tenants moving in or at the start of any new tenancy. You should keep the copy for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord and any appliances that are available to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't have a valid gas safety certification and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive fines (up to PS6,000), court action from your tenants, or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The biggest chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property in order to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these cases it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is not detected promptly.
If a tenant continues to refuse to let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider serving them with the Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason why they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure their rental properties comply with the laws of the government. However, landlord gas safety certificate how often might refuse to let gas engineers into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair to landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete an essential legally-required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. It is also referred to 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 must provide their current tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give an applicant one upon signing the lease. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can obtain more information on these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in the Rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they can apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants. A notice under 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 a record of those attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally and is found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. This means they have to regularly check with an accredited gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This will help stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety checks on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy, or they are fighting with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains why the gas safety check is needed and what it will entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious measure that should only be taken in the last resort.
