Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must show that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who really needs 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 the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages of your properties are clear to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, as well as their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on any work needed to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your current tenants 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 take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's an excellent idea to obtain one every year. Not only will this put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you spot any problems early on. This can save you time and money in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require additional checks.
Who requires an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need 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 has been completed. This should be done ideally before your tenants move into the property or at the beginning of a new lease. You should also keep the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of the maintenance that was done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant risk is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has an exclusive hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant not to let access to the rental property in order to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these cases it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered in 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 lease. This should be accompanied with an explanation of why they're being evicted. For example, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital, legally required piece of documentation. This will help reduce the number of tenants who deny 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 commonly 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 their existing tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide an applicant an original copy when they sign the lease. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free brochures along with an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. A notice of 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 a landlord fails follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means that they must regularly check with a registered gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good working condition.
This will avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. gas safety certificate grace period is essential that landlords are up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for not doing so.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety test was completed on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy, or they are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they will entail. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they must take further action. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious step which should only be used only in the case of a last resort.