Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to prove that the pipework as well as the flues, appliances and appliances in their homes are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be done by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. That's why every property owner needs to be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages in your properties are clear to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, including their model, make, and location in your home. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's vital to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one every year. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you identify any problems early. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They will show that you've taken good care of all gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require any additional inspections.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
After the inspection has been completed and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done before your tenants move into the property, or at the beginning of any new tenancy. You should also keep a copy of the certificate for yourself along with any records of the maintenance that was done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have an official gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive penalties (up to a total 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 due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only person who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they have been properly trained to examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. landlord safety certificate has a unique Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant to permit access to the rental property to conduct the Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide could be if not detected on time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in the property, then the landlord could decide to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This must be accompanied by an explanation of the reason why they're being removed for non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
landlord safety certificate need gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to let a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required access to their homes in order to complete a legally required document. 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 sure that all appliances are safe to use, they will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also known 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. They must also give the new tenant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in each room used for living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to every storey of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free brochures as well as an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. A section 21 notice 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 fails follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using unlawful means, they could be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. It also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents which could result from faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is essential that landlords are current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must be able to show proof that they completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. This can be done by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or defective immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety checks. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery, and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they should take further steps. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. But, this is a very serious option that should only be taken as an option last resort.