Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must prove that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their properties are safe before they put them up for sale. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you must to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. next page 's why every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas certificate? Who is the one who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are clear in your rental properties to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, including their model, brand and the location of your property. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
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 give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one every year. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but will help you spot any issues in advance. This could help you save money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful for potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require additional checks.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within 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.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep the certificate for yourself, along with any records of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances that are provided for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't have a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to hefty fines (up to PS6,000), court action from your tenants or an indictment. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to inspect gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has an exclusive hologram.
Although it's not common for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to allow the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances, it is important that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why it is a requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in 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 is to be accompanied by a description of the reason why they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties comply with the laws of the government. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital legally required piece of documentation. This will decrease the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use They will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known 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 provide an original copy to current 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 must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each 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 unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to keep in mind that a section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept records of the attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason and is accused of harassment and face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This can help prevent fires or accidents that could be caused by faulty appliances, as well as helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is important that landlords keep current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must prove that their annual gas safety test has been carried out in a timely manner. This can be done by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or are in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea for the landlord to send an explicit letter stating why the gas safety checks are required and what they'll mean. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious decision which should be used only as a last option.