Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it's only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework, appliances and flues in their homes are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be done with a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to follow the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who is the one who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full examination of all gas appliances and flues within your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are in good working order in your rental property to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make, model and location within your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliance to be safe for use or not, and will give details of any work that must be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You should also provide it to new tenants once they begin their tenancy. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one on an annual basis. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you catch any issues before they become serious. This could save you a lot of money and hassle 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 will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
Once the inspection is complete and you're ready to get an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended that this be completed before your new tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new tenancies. Keep a copy for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess an official gas safety certificate you could be facing huge penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or a criminal charge. The greatest chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, that has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not common for tenants to deny access to their rental property to permit an Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home The landlord should consider giving them an Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied with an explanation of the reason they're being evicted. For example the non-payment of rent, or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to complete a vital legally required piece of documentation. gas safe installation certificate will reduce the number tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. It is also referred to 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 the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give the new tenant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey 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 in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to note that a notice under section 21 is only served when the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry for the gas safety check and has maintained records of the attempts. If a landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure for entry and then tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by defective appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur when appliances aren't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to grant them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy or are having a dispute 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 required and what they'll entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force them to allow access. This is a very serious option that should only be considered as a last resort.