Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help in achieving this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also ensure 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 yearly inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, brand, and location in your property. The engineer will then state whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will give details of any work that must be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give 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 start of their tenancy. If you don't comply you could face penalties or fines.
Although homeowners do not need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the state of your heating and gas appliances, but can help you identify any issues in advance. This could save you time and money in the long-term.
If you're planning to sell your home and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done prior to your tenants moving into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. You should also keep the certificate for yourself along with any records of maintenance carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally 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 and any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest risk is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
The only ones who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they are trained to safely examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, which has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home The landlord should consider serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This is to be accompanied by a description of the reason they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their properties are in compliance with the requirements of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to let a gas engineer into their home for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to access their homes to complete a legally required document. This will reduce the number tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use They will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide a new tenant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can obtain 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 in order to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. It is important to keep in mind that a section 21 notice can only be served when the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they could be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good condition.
This will help avoid any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are in a 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's going to involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking additional steps. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. However, this is a serious decision that should only be taken as a last option.