Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This is true for landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must show that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. This is why every property owner must be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas 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 exhaustive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also test 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 detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, make and the location of your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and will detail any work that must be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If you don't comply, you could face charges or fines.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's recommended to obtain one every year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any issues early. Recommended Online site can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
If you're considering selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new tenancy. Keep a copy of 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 includes both the landlord's own gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certification and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge fines (up to a maximum of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants, or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can determine whether 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 deny access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances it is crucial for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous if not detected promptly.
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 should be accompanied by a description of the reason for being removed for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties comply with government regulations. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should make sure to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an important legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when the required checks. It is also referred to as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was the Council for Registered Gas Installers until it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009.
The landlord must provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. They must also give an applicant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each storey of the property. Landlords can obtain more information on 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 is not able to gain access to the property in order to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to remember, however, that a notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry for the gas safety check and has maintained records of these attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and tries evicting tenants without a valid reason they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents that could be caused by defective appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety check was completed on time. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or defective immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety inspections. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is an ideal idea for the landlord to write an explicit letter stating the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they'll entail. This letter could be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is still refusing to let the landlord access, they should consider taking further action. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious action that should only be taken only in the case of a last resort.