Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords must demonstrate that the pipework as well as the flues, appliances and appliances within their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be accomplished by obtaining the gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental properties to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the inspected gas appliances and installations, along with their model, brand and location within your property. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use and provide details on any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants once they start their tenure. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only set your mind at ease regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you identify any issues early. This will save you money and time in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of conveyancing since it does not require any additional inspections.
Who requires an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly.
You'll need your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new lease. Keep a copy of the document for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are required to have their properties examined for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid gas certificate safety, you could face severe penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. This is because they have been trained to safely examine and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is 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 crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their lease. gas safety certificate check should be accompanied by an explanation as to why they're being removed. For example the non-payment of rent, or significant damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certification?
Landlords need gas safety certificates to prove their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to let gas engineers enter their residences 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 only need to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. This is also 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 a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each storey of the property. Landlords can obtain more information about 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 cannot gain access to their property in order to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. It is important to remember that a notice under section 21 is only served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of these attempts. If a landlord fails follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order.
This can help prevent fires or accidents that may be caused by faulty appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is important that landlords keep up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking another step. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. However, this is a very serious option that should only be taken as a last resort.