Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must prove that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working condition. That's why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages in your property are free of obstruction to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your home. The engineer will also state whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that must be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you identify any problems early. This will save you time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new lease. You should keep an original copy of the document for yourself and keep documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your property.
The landlords' properties must be inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you may face severe penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances at your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in, then the landlord may consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation of why they are being forced out. For instance the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I get an 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 allow gas engineers into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware 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 grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 their existing tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in each room used for living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and attempts 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?
hop over to these guys need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents which could result from faulty appliances, as well as reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords need to be able prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks on time. They can do this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as dangerous or defective, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to grant access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. This could be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It's a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains why the gas safety check is needed and what it's going to involve. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not give the landlord access they should take additional steps. This could involve writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious measure that should only be taken in the last option.