Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords must demonstrate that the pipes as well as the flues, appliances and appliances in their homes are safe before putting them on the market. This can be accomplished with a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you need to comply with the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working order. 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 needs gas safety certificate how often ?
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 an extensive inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation passages are clear within your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe 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 home. The engineer will determine if the appliances are safe to use and provide details on any work needed to ensure your tenants' safety.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they begin their lease. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to obtain one every year. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but it could also help you spot any issues early. This can help you save money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you've taken good care of all your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
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 have to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly.
Once the inspection is complete, you'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be completed before your tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. You should also keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of maintenance carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties examined for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you may face massive penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The most significant risk, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect and service appliances and installations safely. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property in order to perform the Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord explains to the tenant why it is a requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home The landlord should consider giving them the Section 21 notice to end their lease. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow gas engineers enter their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that all appliances are safe to use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known as a CP12 which stands for 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 must provide their current tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. They must also give the new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free brochures along with an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property to conduct the required gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of these attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and attempts to evict tenants without a valid reason, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This helps prevent fires or accidents that could result from faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is essential that landlords are current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to show that their annual gas safety inspection was completed in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to let them access the property for gas safety inspections. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll mean. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they must take further action. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to grant access. This is a serious measure which should only be used in the last option.