Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords must prove that the pipework and flues, as well as appliances, in their homes are safe prior to putting them on the market. Gas safety certificates can assist you achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether Full Statement 're a landlord or homeowner, you have to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations 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? And who is the person who requires one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation channels are in good working order in your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their model, make and the location of your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliance 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 the service and provide it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. If you fail to comply with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's a good thing to get one each year. Not only will this give you peace of mind regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you spot any problems early on. This can save you lots of time and money in the long in the long.
If you're thinking of selling your home, the 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 certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is best to have this done before your current tenants move in or at the beginning of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself as well as any records of the maintenance that was performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties examined for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid gas certificate safety, you could be subject to heavy fines (upto PS6,000), legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest danger is that a tenant might be injured or even killed due to defective appliances at your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. This is because only they have been trained to safely examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these situations it's crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider giving them an Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason why they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration 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 decrease the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after he has completed the necessary checks. This is also known as a CP12 which 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 is completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used for 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 has more information for landlords, such as free leaflets 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 their property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they may apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. A section 21 notice 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 and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason and is found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This means that they need to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This will prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks in time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to let them access the property for the gas safety checks. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is needed and what it will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force them to grant access. This is a serious measure that should only be taken only in the case of a last option.