Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able show that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must abide by the law, 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 obtain their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages of your home are clean to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use and provide information about 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 receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to obtain one on an annual basis. gas safety certificate landlord will not just put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but help you spot any issues early. This could save you lots of money and hassle in the long term.
If you're planning to sell your home If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can accelerate the process of selling as it will not require any additional checks.
Who is in need of 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. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
You'll need your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is best to have this completed before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself along with any records 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 once every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess a valid gas safety certificate you could be facing huge penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or an indictment. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they are trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has an exclusive hologram.
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 for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if not detected promptly.
If the tenant is unwilling to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason for being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with the requirements of the government. However, Our Web Page may refuse to allow gas engineers into their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords must try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete an essential legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. This document is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide their current tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide a new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used for living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each storey of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. It is important to note that a section 21 notice is only served when the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure for entry and then tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in time. They can prove this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining an original copy of the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it would violate their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea for the landlord to write an explicit letter stating the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll entail. This letter could be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they should take additional steps. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to grant access. This is a serious step that should only be considered in the last option.