Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must prove that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working order. This is why every property owner must be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who really needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also verify that the vents in 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. The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined, along with their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they begin their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to charges or fines.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's a good thing to get one each year. This will not only set your mind at ease regarding the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any issues in advance. This could help you save time and money in the long term.
If you're planning to sell your home If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get 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 will also speed the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who is in need of 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 arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed You'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done prior to your tenants moving in, or at the beginning of any new tenancy. Keep the certificate for yourself, along with any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess a valid gas safety certificate, you could face huge penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants, or even a criminal charge. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they are trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, which has unique holograms on it.
Although it's not common for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to permit an Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in, then the landlord may be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This must be accompanied by an explanation of the reason for being removed for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with government regulations. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required access to their homes in order to complete a legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12, which 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 has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, such as free leaflets 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 the property in order to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to note that a notice under section 21 can only be served when the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of the attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an approved gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This means that they need to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good condition.
This will help to avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. do i need a gas safety certificate could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must be able to prove that their annual gas safety check has been carried out in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access the property for the gas safety checks. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or that they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is needed and what it will involve. This can be sent by recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could involve writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to grant access. This is a serious measure which should only be used in the last resort.