Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property on the market landlords must demonstrate that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working in good working order. That's why every property owner needs to be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full examination of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the inspected gas appliances and installations, as well as their make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenure. If you don't comply, you could face penalties or fines.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to get one every year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you catch any problems early on. This could save you lots of time and money in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They can show that you've taken good care of all your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your obligation to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed You'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed prior to when your current tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. Keep a copy for yourself as well as the records of any maintenance that was done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess a valid gas safety certification you could be facing huge penalties (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants, or even an indictment. The most significant risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to allow the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their lease. This must be accompanied by an explanation of the reason for being forced out for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need access to their homes in order in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to grant access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. 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 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 a new tenant one upon signing the lease. The landlord must ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, including free brochures 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 their property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to remember, however, that a section 21 notice can only be served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain entry for the gas safety check and has kept records of these attempts. If a landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure for entry and 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 certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. This means that they need 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, as well as reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to be able show proof that they completed their annual gas safety inspections 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 engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is needed and what it's going to involve. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they should take additional steps. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious decision that should only be considered as a last resort.