Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able prove that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. gas safety certificate grace period is why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the vents in your properties are clear to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, along with their make, model and location within your property. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that needs to be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You must also give it to new tenants when they start their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one annually. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any issues before they become serious. This can save you lots of time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you've taken care of all gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require any additional checks.
Who requires a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
Once the inspection is complete You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this done before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself, as well as documentation of any maintenance you have carried out on gas appliances in your home.
Landlords must have their properties examined for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't possess a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The most significant chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental home.
Only gas safety certificate homeowner are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card that has an exclusive hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property in order to conduct the Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why this is a legal requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property, then the landlord may decide to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by an explanation of the reason they're being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. Some tenants will refuse to let a gas engineer into their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete a vital legally-required piece of documentation. This will help reduce the number of tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
gas safety certificate homeowner must provide their current tenants with a copy the 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 is equipped in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to every storey of the property. Landlords can find more information on 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 unable to gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. It is important to keep in mind that a notice under section 21 can only be served if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry for the gas safety check and has kept records of the attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully they could be found guilty of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This will help avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for gas safety inspections. It could be because they believe that it violates their privacy, or they are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended to ask the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are required and what they will entail. This letter could be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give the landlord access they must take additional steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be considered as a last option.