Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificate s can help in achieving this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who 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 thorough inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation channels are in good working order in your rental properties to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, including their make, model and location within your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You must also give it to new tenants once they start their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one each year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any issues before they become serious. This can save you money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you've taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require any additional checks.
Who requires an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your responsibility 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 working properly.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be completed before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. You should also keep the certificate for yourself along with any records of maintenance performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords must have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to hefty penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants, or even a criminal charge. The most significant danger is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with a unique hologram on it.
It is not common for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property in order to perform the Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if not detected in time.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation of why they're being removed. For example the non-payment of rent, or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers enter their homes for this reason which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and only need to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will help to 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 the required checks. It is also known as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide their existing tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant one upon signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used for living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord has 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 follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must be issued an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This means that they need to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good condition.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen when appliances aren't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords need to be able prove that they have completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect tenant's safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading tenants to let them access the property for the gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why the gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is still refusing to let the landlord access then they should consider taking further action. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious measure which should only be used in the last option.