Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able prove that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good in good working order. That's why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? 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 full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the inspected gas appliances and installations, including their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will determine if the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
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 the service and provide it to any new tenants at the start of their tenure. Failure to do this could result in fines or even 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. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it will also help you spot any problems early on. This can save you lots of money and hassle in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful to prospective buyers when selling your home. They can show that you've taken good care of all gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
After the inspection has been completed You'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed before your tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. Keep a copy of the document for yourself and keep the records of any maintenance that was performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
gas safe register duplicate certificate are legally obliged to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you could be subject to heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest risk 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. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, with a unique hologram on it.
It is very rare for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property in order to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider giving them the Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation of why they are being forced out. For example the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties meet government regulations. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to grant access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is sure that all appliances are safe to use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to 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 this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give the new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each floor 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 is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if necessary. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means they have to get regular checks done by a registered gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This can help prevent fires or accidents that may be caused by faulty appliances, in addition to helping to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety checks on time. They can do this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is a good idea to ask the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they'll mean. This letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant does not give access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could include drafting a 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 considered only as a last option.