Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able show that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done by obtaining an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who needs one?
gas safety certificate uk , also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions within 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. It will list all the inspected gas appliances and installations, as well as their make, model and location within your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information on any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
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 beginning of their tenure. If you don't follow the rules, you could face penalties or fines.
Although homeowners don't need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one on an annual basis. This will not only give you peace of mind regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it will aid in identifying any problems early on. This can save you lots of time and money in the long in the long.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They can show that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional inspections.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances or flues within 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 that everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this prior to your tenants moving in or at the beginning of a new lease. Keep an original copy for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances that are available to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess a valid gas safety certification you could be facing hefty penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or a criminal charge. The biggest danger is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by faulty appliances at your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords are able to check if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant not to permit access to the rental property to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If a tenant still won't let an engineer into their home, the landlord should consider serving them with an Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with the requirements of the government. However, some tenants might not allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair to landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital legally-required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after the required checks. This 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 has to give an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each floor of the property. Landlords can obtain more information about these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice to evict tenants. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to evict their tenants by illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulators.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they must have regular checks performed by a registered gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This will avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. It is essential that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to show that their annual gas safety check has been carried out on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they believe that it is an invasion of their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it's going to involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they should take further action. This might include writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel the tenant to allow access. This is a serious action that should only be taken only in the case of a last resort.