Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties on the market, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all the gas appliances and flues within your rental home. The engineer will also verify that the vents in 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. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, along with their model, make and location within your home. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and provide details of any work that needs to be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants when they start their lease. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to obtain one every year. This will not only make you feel more comfortable about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you spot any issues before they become serious. This could save you money and time in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the beginning of any new lease. You should keep an original copy of the document for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't have a valid gas safety certification you could be facing hefty penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants, or even a criminal charge. The biggest risk, 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 conduct an Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who are trained to safely examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has an exclusive hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to permit a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances, it's important for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home The landlord should consider giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation as to why they're being evicted. For example rent arrears, non-payment or severe damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. gas safety certificate what is checked will not allow a gas engineer to enter their residence for this reason which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and only need to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. 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 has been completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure 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 fitted to every storey of the property. The HSE website has 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 in order to carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to remember that a notice under section 21 can only be 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 adhere to the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict their tenants by unlawful means, they could be found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. This means they have to get regular checks done by a registered gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents which could be caused by defective appliances, as well as helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when appliances aren't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety check was carried out on time. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. gas safety certificate check may be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant still refuses to let the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. This could involve writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. But, this is a serious step that should only be taken as a last resort.