Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property for sale landlords must prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed 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 need to comply with the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who is the one who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were examined and their manufacturer and model as well as their location within your home. The engineer will state 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 should also provide it to tenants who are new when they start their lease. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not only put your mind at rest about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but will help you spot any problems early. This could save you money and time in the long-term.
If gas safe building regulations compliance certificate of selling your home and are thinking of selling it, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process as it will not require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. Ideally, this will be completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. You should keep a copy for yourself as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess an official gas safety certificate you could be facing hefty fines (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or even a criminal charge. The greatest risk is that a tenant could be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
The only person who are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not common for tenants to deny access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if not detected promptly.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their lease. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason for being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their rented properties meet government regulations. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have completed the necessary checks. This document is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but 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 check being completed and give a new tenant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each storey of the property. Landlords can find more information on these requirements, including free leaflets 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 in order to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if necessary. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry for the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of these attempts. If a landlord fails follow the proper procedure for entry and then tries to expel tenants using unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This means that they must to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. It is important that landlords are up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or defective immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This could be due to a number of reasons, including 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 an ideal idea to ask the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking further action. This might include writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force them to grant access. This is a serious action that should only be considered only as a last option.
