Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must demonstrate that the pipes as well as the flues, appliances and appliances in their properties are safe prior to putting them up for sale. This can be done by obtaining an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner, when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working condition. That's why every property owner must be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What 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 an official document that is issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages in your property are free of obstruction to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their model, make, and location in your property. The engineer will determine if the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You must also give it to new tenants when they start their tenure. If you fail to comply you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to get 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 problems early. This can help you save time and money in the long term.
If you're thinking of selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
Once the inspection is complete and you're ready to get an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. 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 must have their properties checked for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't have a valid gas safety certification you could be facing massive fines (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants, or even an indictment. The most significant danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. This is because they have been properly trained to examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, which has a unique hologram on it.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to permit an Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these cases it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation of why they're being evicted. For example, non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Info must try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete a vital legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable 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 an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed. They must also give a new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each 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 a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to evict the tenants, if appropriate. 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 entry for the gas safety check and has maintained records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict their tenants by illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an approved gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires that could be caused by faulty appliances, as well as reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords keep current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must be able to prove that their annual gas safety test has been carried out on time. They can prove this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to let them access the property for gas safety checks. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is necessary 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 is still refusing to allow the landlord access, they should consider taking additional steps. This might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. However, this is a very serious option that should only be considered as a last resort.