Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. This is why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who really needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. It is also required to provide it to tenants who are new when they start their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one each year. This will not only set your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you lots of time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you've taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating properly.
After the inspection has been completed You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to your tenants moving in, or at the beginning of any new lease. Keep the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord and any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If gas safety certificate replacement 're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certification you could be facing massive penalties (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants, or even an indictment. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only person who can carry out a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, which has unique holograms on it.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why it is a obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide can be if not detected in time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about serving them with an Section 21 notice to end their lease. This should be accompanied by an explanation of the reason they are being forced out. For example the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer in their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must try to get the word out to their tenants that gas technicians are not spying and are only required to complete an important legally required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have 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 an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of the attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants unlawfully they could be found guilty of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help to avoid any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety inspections on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety inspection is required and what it's going to involve. This letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This might include writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious action that should only be taken only as a last option.