Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale, landlords must be able show that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished with the gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. gas safety certificate how often is why every property owner must get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who is the one who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages of your home are clean to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, along with their model, brand and the location of your property. The engineer will state whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one each year. Not only will this give you peace of mind regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any problems early on. This could help you save time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your house. They will show that you've taken good care of all gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is working properly.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of a new lease. Keep the copy of the document for yourself, as well as records of any maintenance done to the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords must have their properties examined for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid gas certificate safety, you may face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest risk is that a tenant might be injured or even killed due to defective appliances at your rental property.
The only ones who can carry out an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations, it's important for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered in time.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance rent arrears, non-payment or significant damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with government regulations. However, some tenants may not allow a gas engineer into their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not spying and are only required to complete an important, legally required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. This document is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. Landlords can find more information about these requirements, including free leaflets 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 carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. A notice of section 21 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 the unsuccessful attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason, they may be found guilty of harassing and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is essential that landlords are up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must show that their annual gas safety inspection was completed on time. They can do this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to let them access the house for gas safety checks. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or that they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It's recommended that the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to give the landlord access they should take further steps. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. But, this is a serious step which should be used only as an option last resort.