Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords

It is crucial to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or holiday homes.

Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their properties are safe prior to putting them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can assist you achieve this.

What is a gas safety certificate?

You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner, when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? And who is the person who requires one?

A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages in your property are free of obstruction 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 the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, brand, and location in your property. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work needed to ensure the safety of your tenants.

You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You must also give it to tenants who are new when they begin their lease. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.

Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it could aid in identifying any problems early on. how long does a gas safety certificate last can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

If you're thinking of selling your home and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers as it will demonstrate 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 requires a gas safety certificate?

As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that 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 recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself and keep documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your property.

Landlords are required to have their properties examined for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.

If you're a landlord who doesn't have an official gas safety certificate you could be facing hefty penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or a criminal charge. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.

The only ones who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card that has unique holograms on it.

Although it's not common for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to permit a Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.

If the tenant is unwilling to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.

How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?


A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may not allow a gas engineer into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete an important legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.

After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use They will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also known as a CP12, which stands for 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed. They must also give an applicant a copy on signing the lease. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.

If a landlord cannot gain access to their property to conduct the required gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a notice under section 21 is only valid when the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and then tries to expel their tenants unlawfully, they may be found guilty of harassing and face heavy fines.

Why do I need a gas safety certificate?

Landlords need to have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they should ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.

This can help prevent accidents or fires that may result from faulty appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen when appliances aren't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't.

Landlords must be able to demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. The landlord must fix any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.

Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains why the gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.

If the tenant does not give access to the landlord, they should take further steps. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. However, this is a serious decision which should be used only as an option last option.