Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe before they put them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you have to adhere to the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working order. That's why every property owner needs to get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who is the one who 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 your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation channels are free of obstructions in your rental properties to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, including their model, brand, and location in your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will detail any work that needs to be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
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 beginning of their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one each year. This will not just put your mind at rest about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you identify any problems early. This can save you a lot of money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful to prospective buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get the 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. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the certificate for yourself and any documentation of maintenance performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't possess a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge penalties (up to PS6,000), court action from your tenants, or even a criminal charge. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check and service appliances and installations safely. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is not common for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances, it's important for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied by an explanation of the reason they're being removed, such as non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to prove their rental properties meet government regulations. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should make sure to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not spying and are only required to complete a vital legally required piece of documentation. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once he has completed the necessary checks. It is also known as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord has to give copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living accommodation which 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, such as free leaflets along with 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 in order to conduct the required gas safety checks, they may apply for a section 21 notice to evict the tenants, if appropriate. A notice under 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 a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they could be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do gas safety certificate check require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means they have to get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. It also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order.
This can help prevent fires or accidents that could be caused by faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading their tenants to let them access the property for the gas safety inspections. It may be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy or are in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery, and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access, they should consider taking further action. This might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious action that should only be taken only in the case of a last resort.