Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords must demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. Gas safety certificates can assist you achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to follow the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. That's why every property owner must get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who needs straight from the source ?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, along with their model, make, and location in your property. The engineer will state 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. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they begin their lease. Failure to do this could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it will aid in identifying any issues before they become serious. This can save you money and time in the long-term.
If you're planning to sell your house and are thinking of selling it, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
Once the inspection is complete, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new lease. You should keep an original copy of the document for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your home.
The landlords' properties must be examined for gas safety at a 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 and don't possess a valid gas safety certificate you could be facing massive fines (up to a maximum of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or even an indictment. The greatest chance is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by 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 only they have been trained to safely inspect and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, with a unique hologram on it.
While straight from the source for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to permit a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these cases, it's important for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if not detected promptly.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about giving them the Section 21 notice to end their lease. This is to be accompanied by a description of the reason why they're being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their homes for this reason which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not spying and are only required to complete an important, legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. 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 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 agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should 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 not able to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they may make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord has 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 does not follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires which could result from faulty appliances, while also aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety check has been carried out in a timely manner. They can do this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining 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 are unable to convince their tenants to grant access to their property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This could be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be taken only as a last resort.
