Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale landlords must demonstrate that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must abide by the law, whether you are a landlord or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive examination of all gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages in your home are clean to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will provide details of the work that needs to be done 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 start of their tenure. If you don't follow the rules you could face penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one each year. This will not only set your mind at rest about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you money and time in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home, a 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. It also speeds the process of selling as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. gas safety certificate near me means that you'll need to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
Once the inspection is complete You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed prior to when your current tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances, as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you could be subject to severe penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The greatest risk is that a tenant might be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, with unique holograms on it.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord informs the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer into the property and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason for being removed, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties meet the laws of the government. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer to enter their residence for this reason, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after he has completed the necessary checks. It is also referred to as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 give copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will receive a copy when signing the tenancy contract. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each floor of the property. Landlords can find more information on 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 cannot gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept records of those attempts. If a landlord does not follow the correct procedure for entry and then tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure 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 which could be caused by faulty appliances, as well as helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is crucial that landlords keep up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety check has been carried out on time. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access the house for gas safety checks. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it will involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a very serious option that should only be considered as a last option.