Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework as well as the flues, appliances and appliances within their properties are safe before putting them up for sale. This can be done with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must adhere to the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. This is why every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificate at least once a year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who is the one who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a licensed 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 free of obstructions in your rental properties to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the inspected gas appliances 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 the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to charges or fines.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but it could also help you spot any issues before they become serious. This could save you time and money in the long-term.
If you're thinking of selling your home If you're thinking of selling your home, the 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. It will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done ideally before your tenants move in, or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself as well as any records of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face massive penalties (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest danger is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check, mkgassafety service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords are able to check whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property in order to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these cases it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if not detected promptly.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied with an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance the non-payment of rent, or significant damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. Some tenants will refuse to let a gas engineer into their residence for this reason which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas technicians are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital 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 once he has completed the necessary checks. This is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once 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 is completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each floor of the property. Landlords can find 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 unable to gain access to the property in order to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. It is important to remember that a notice under section 21 is only valid when the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of the attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants illegally and is accused of harassment and face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe for use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This helps prevent accidents or fires that may result from faulty appliances, as well as helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords keep up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for failing to do so.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety check has been carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them repaired as soon as possible to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access the property for the gas safety inspections. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea for the landlord to send an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they will entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. This is a serious action that should only be taken only as a last option.