Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to remember that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property for sale landlords must show that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by obtaining an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must abide by the law, whether you are a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues in your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are in good working order within your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, along with their model, brand and location within your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information 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 following the service. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they start their tenure. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to charges or fines.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one each year. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it could also help you spot any problems early on. This can help you save money and hassle in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful for potential buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you have taken care of all gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
Once the inspection is complete and you're ready to get a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be completed before your current tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
The landlords' properties must be checked for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances, as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have an official certificate of gas safety, you may face heavy penalties (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The greatest chance is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe way. gas safety certificate homeowner can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with unique holograms on it.
It is not common for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property in order to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these cases it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is 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 tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For example rent arrears, non-payment or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use They will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known 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 must give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord should ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can obtain more information on these requirements, including free brochures 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 the property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to note, however, that a section 21 notice can only be served if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of these attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully, they may be found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must make sure the gas pipes, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is essential that landlords are up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for not doing so.
Landlords need to show that their annual gas safety check was carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them repaired immediately to ensure the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety checks. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. This letter can be delivered via recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. However, this is a very serious option which should be used only as a last option.