Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it's only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their properties are safe before putting them up for sale. This can be accomplished by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to comply with the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who really needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation pathways are in good working order in your rental properties to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, including their make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about 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 the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only put your mind at rest about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you identify any issues in advance. This can save you time and money in the long run.
If you're planning to sell your home If you're thinking of selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will accelerate the process of selling because it won't require additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this before your tenants move into the property or at the beginning of any new tenancy. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself and any documentation of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords must have their properties checked for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face severe fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only gas certificates are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. This is because they have been trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although click to read 's not common for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow an Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances it is crucial for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide can be very hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing 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 should be followed by an explanation of why they're being evicted. For instance the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use, they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also commonly known as a CP12, which stands for 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 must provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed and give an applicant one upon signing the lease. The landlord should also ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can get more information on these requirements, including free brochures 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 not able to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord 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 tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe for use. This also means that they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires which could be caused by faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur when appliances aren't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They could be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to grant access to their property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is needed and what it will involve. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give the landlord access they must take further action. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. But, this is a serious step that should only be considered as an option last resort.