Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their properties on the market, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to adhere to the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name 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 home are clean to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. how to get gas safety certificate will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make, model and location within your property. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. If you fail to comply you could face charges or fines.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to get one annually. This will not just put your mind at rest about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but also help you detect any issues in advance. This will help you save money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your house. They will show that you've taken good care of all gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will speed up the conveyancing process as it will not require additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
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 the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new lease. You should keep the copy of the document for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest chance is that a tenant may be injured or even killed due to defective appliances at your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords are able to check if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property in order to permit an Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these situations, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why this is a legal requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide could 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 the Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason why they're being evicted, such as non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certificate?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure that their rental properties meet government regulations. However, some tenants might not allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after the required checks. It is also known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide their current tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give an applicant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. Landlords can obtain more information about these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in the Rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of those attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants illegally, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must regularly check with a registered gas engineer to make sure that any 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 fires or accidents which could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to show proof that they completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. They can prove this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they will entail. This letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant will be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious step that should only be taken in the last resort.