Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it's only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must demonstrate that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law in regards to keeping 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 safety certificate? Who really needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official 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 vents in your property are free of obstruction to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make, model and location within your property. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. If you fail to comply, you could face penalties or fines.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but will help you spot any problems early. This could help you save money and time in the long-term.
If you're thinking of selling your home and are thinking of selling it, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can speed up the conveyancing process as it will not require additional checks.
Who requires gas safe building regulations compliance certificate ?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure 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 with a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
You'll need your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done before your tenants move into the property or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep the copy for yourself, as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances that are provided for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess a valid gas safety certification you could be facing huge fines (up to a total of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or even an indictment. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they have been trained to safely examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords are able to check whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property to perform an Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant why this is a mandatory obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide may be if not detected on time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property the property, then the landlord could decide to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason why they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to let a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse 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. This is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord has to give an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy contract. The landlord must ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can obtain more information about these requirements, including free leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in the rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of the attempts. If a landlord fails follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
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 that they must regularly check with an approved gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working in good working order.
This can help prevent accidents or fires that could be caused by defective appliances, while also aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is essential that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined if they don't.
Landlords have to show proof that they completed their annual gas safety inspections on time. They can do this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect tenant's safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access then they should consider taking further action. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. However, this is a very serious option which should be used only as a last option.