Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it's only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able prove that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by having the gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must comply with the law, whether you're a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working in good working order. This is why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation channels are in good working order in your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make, model and location within your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliance to be safe for use or not, and will provide details of any work that needs to be completed 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 the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If gas safety certificate grace period don't follow the rules you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one each year. Not only will this put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you spot any issues early. This could help you save money and hassle in the long term.
If you're thinking of selling your home and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances or flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
After the inspection has been completed You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done before your tenants move in or at the start of a new lease. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of the maintenance that was done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord and any appliances that are provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid gas certificate safety, you could be subject to heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant danger is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has a unique hologram on it.
It is not common for a tenant to not let access to the rental property to conduct the Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these instances it is crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about serving them with an Section 21 notice to end their lease. This should be accompanied by a description of the reason why they're being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their rented properties meet the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required to access their homes to complete a legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. 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 has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy contract. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. The HSE website has 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 is unable to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if needed. It is important to remember that a section 21 notice can only be served if the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain entry to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of the attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. This means they have to get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. This also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help to avoid any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety inspections on time. They can do this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as dangerous or defective, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant still refuses to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious step that should only be taken only as a last resort.