Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their properties on the market landlords must prove that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner, when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. That's why every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages in your home are clean to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all 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 also state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and will give details of the work that needs to be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not only set your mind at rest about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but will also help you detect any issues in advance. This will save you money and time in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home and are thinking of selling it, 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. Additionally, it will accelerate the process of selling as it will not require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this done before your new tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new leases. Keep the copy of the document for yourself as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord without an official certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest danger is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances at your rental property.
The only people who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify 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 tenants to deny access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if not detected in time.
If the tenant refuses to let an engineer in the property, then the landlord could consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove that their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their residences for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to complete a vital, legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use They will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to 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.
cp12 certificate is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. They must also give an applicant a copy on 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 fitted to each storey of the property. Landlords can get more information about these requirements, including free leaflets 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 not able to gain access to the property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to remember that a notice under section 21 is only served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain entry for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of these attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using unlawful means, they could be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means they must have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This means that they need to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good condition.
This will help stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must be able to prove that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out in a timely manner. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as dangerous or defective, the landlord must get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access to the house for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining why the gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll entail. This letter could be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant still refuses to let the landlord access the landlord should think about taking another step. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious step which should be used only as an option last option.