Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipes, appliances and flues in their homes are safe before they put them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to comply with the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? And who is the person who requires one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name 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 make sure that all ventilation passages are in good working order within your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, make and location within your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will detail the work that needs to be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one each year. This will not only put your mind at ease about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you lots of time and money in the long in the long.
If you're planning to sell your house, you should get a 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 also speeds up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional inspections.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly.
After the inspection has been completed and you're ready to get a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to your tenants moving into the property or at the beginning of any new lease. Keep the copy for yourself as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with an official certificate of gas safety, you may face severe penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant risk is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances at your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is not common for a tenant to permit access to the rental property to perform the Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why it is a obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider serving them with the Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they're being removed. For instance, non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their rented properties meet government regulations. However, some tenants may refuse to let gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required to access their homes to complete a legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also known 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed and give the new tenant one upon signing the lease. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used for living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to evict the tenants, if appropriate. A notice of 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 records of those attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and then tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, how long does gas safety certificate last must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This will prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could result from faulty equipment. It is important that landlords are current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that 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 have trouble persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety inspections. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are in a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety inspection is required and what it will involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be taken as a last resort.