Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. gas safe building regulations compliance certificate is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their property on the market, landlords must be able show that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
You must comply with the law, whether you are a landlord or a homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full examination of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are in good working order within your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, make and location within your home. 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.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
While homeowners don't require to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one annually. This will not just put your mind at rest about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you a lot of money and stress in the long in the long.
If you're planning to sell your house If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it does not require any additional inspections.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
After the inspection has been completed and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep a copy of the document for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords must have their properties 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 that are available to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't have an official gas safety certificate you could be facing massive penalties (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or even an indictment. The greatest risk is that a tenant may be injured or even killed due to defective appliances at your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct the Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is not common for a tenant not to let access to the rental property in order to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why it is a requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may 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 be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason for being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to let gas engineers into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas technicians are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential, legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to grant access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. 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 must provide their current 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 an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to every storey of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of those attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and tries evicting tenants without a valid reason they could be found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease 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 pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen when appliances aren't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety inspections in time. They can prove this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them repaired as soon as possible to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may be having difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are required and what they'll entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel the tenant to allow access. This is a serious action which should only be used only in the case of a last resort.