Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must be able to prove that the pipes, appliances and flues in their properties are safe prior to putting them up for sale. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you must to follow the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. That's why every property owner should be issued a gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who really needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the vents in your home are clean to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. landlord gas safety certificate how often will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined, along with their make and model, as well as the location of your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and provide details of the work that needs to be done to ensure the safety 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 start of their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules you could face penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you identify any issues in advance. This will save you money and time in the long-term.
If you're considering selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds up the conveyancing as it does not require any additional inspections.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended that this be done before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself along with any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certification and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge fines (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or even a criminal charge. The most significant chance is that a tenant could be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
The only person who can carry out a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they have been properly trained to inspect and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with unique holograms on it.
Although it's not common for a tenant to deny access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these cases, it's important for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer into the property and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation of the reason they are being forced out. For instance, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties comply with the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and only need to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use they will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed and give an applicant a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each storey of the property. Landlords can find more information on these requirements, including free leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to remove 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 to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This can help prevent accidents or fires that could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety test was completed on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to let them access the property for gas safety inspections. gas safety certificate replacement can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's an invasion 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 a gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious step which should be used only as a last resort.