Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able prove that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or a homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working in good working order. That's why every property owner must get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who needs 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 check that all ventilation pathways are clear in your rental property to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use and provide details on any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If you fail to comply you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at ease about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you identify any problems early. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long in the long.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They will show that you've taken care of all gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can expedite the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move into the property, or at the beginning of any new tenancy. You should also keep the certificate for yourself as well as any records of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances, as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with an official certificate of gas safety, you may face massive fines (upto PS6,000), legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges.
gas safety certificate price is that one of your tenants could 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 inspect and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. 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 uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these cases, it's important for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is not detected promptly.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by a description of the reason for being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to their homes in order in order to fill out a legally required document. This will help to 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 when they have completed the necessary checks. This is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide their current tenants with a copy this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can obtain more information on these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in the Rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. It is important to remember that a section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain entry for the gas safety check and has kept a record of these attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must have regular checks performed by a registered gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires that could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must show that their annual gas safety test was carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or defective immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they believe that it would violate their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel the tenant to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be taken in the last option.