Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework as well as the flues, appliances and appliances in their homes are safe before putting them up for sale. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certificate?
You must adhere to the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good in good working order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly 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 a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your home. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and provide details of any work that must be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give 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 even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the state of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you time and money in the long run.
If you're thinking of selling your home If you're thinking of selling your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process as it will not require additional checks.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the start of a new tenancy. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself along with any records of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords must have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have an official certificate of gas safety, you could face severe penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The greatest risk is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental home.
The only ones who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords are able to check whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not common for tenants to deny access to their rental property in order to allow an Gas Safety Check, it could happen. 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 can be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant continues to refuse to let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation of the reason they're being evicted. For instance, non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers enter their homes for this reason - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to allow access for gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after the required checks. This 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 has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free brochures and 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 the property in order to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. 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 records of those attempts. If Read the Full Article fails to adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants illegally they could be found guilty of harassing and could face heavy fines.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by faulty equipment. It is essential that landlords are current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety checks. 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 dispute with their landlord. It's recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why the gas safety inspection is required and what it will entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they should take further steps. This could include the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. But, this is a serious decision that should only be considered as an option last resort.