Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property on the market landlords must prove that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What is a gas certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages of your home are clean to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, along with their make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. It is also required to provide it to tenants who are new when they begin their lease. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one every year. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you spot any issues early. This can help you save money and time in the long-term.
If you're thinking of selling your house, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues 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 properly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. Ideally, this will be done before your tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of maintenance done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at minimum once every 12months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord and any appliances that are provided for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certificate you could be facing huge penalties (up to a maximum of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or an indictment. The most significant risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has an exclusive hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow a Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about serving them with the Section 21 notice to end their lease. This must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. gas safe installation certificate is also known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can get 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 not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. It is important to note, however, that a notice under section 21 is only valid when the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety check and has kept records of the attempts. If the landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants unlawfully they could be accused of harassment 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 rent is safe for tenants. This means they have to regularly check with a registered gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. 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 need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety test was carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it will involve. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant does not give access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could involve writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious step which should be used only as an option last option.