Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords need to prove that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their properties are safe before putting them up for sale. This can be accomplished by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs his explanation ?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are clear 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 each of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their make, model, and location in your property. The engineer will then state whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and give details of any work that needs to be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You should also provide it to new tenants once they start their lease. If you don't comply, you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one every year. Not only will this give you peace of mind about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it will aid in identifying any issues early. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is recommended that this be completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new tenancies. You should keep an original copy for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have carried out on gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The most significant risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only person who can conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they are trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, that has an exclusive hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to allow an Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these situations it's crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is not detected promptly.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in, then the landlord may consider giving them a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This is to be accompanied by a description of the reason for being removed in the first place, such as not paying rent or significant damage to the property.
How can I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow gas engineers into their homes for this reason which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. gas safe register duplicate certificate should make sure to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an important legally-required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord has to give copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will be provided with a copy when signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure 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 fitted to every storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, including free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can make use of a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. It is important to note that a notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of the attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulators.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe for use. This also means that they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires that could be caused by defective appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords keep up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for not doing so.
Landlords need to show that their annual gas safety test 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 show as dangerous or defective, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains why the 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 respond.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious step that should only be taken as an option last option.