Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their properties for sale landlords must show that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to adhere to the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. That's why every property owner needs to get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas certificate? Who really needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full examination of all gas appliances and flues in your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are clear in your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and will detail the work that needs to be completed 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 the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only give you peace of mind about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it could aid in identifying any issues early. This will help you save money and time in the long-term.
If you're planning to sell your home and are thinking of selling it, the 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 also speeds up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
Once the inspection is complete and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be done before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep an original copy for yourself, as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face massive penalties (upto PS6,000), legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The greatest chance is that a tenant could be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has a unique hologram on it.
It is rare for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord explain to the tenant why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their lease. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason why they're being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer in their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when the required checks. It 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 must give copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive a copy when signing the tenancy contract. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property in order to conduct the required gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally and is accused of harassment and face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. It also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order.
This will help to prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They could be fined when they don't.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that their annual gas safety test has been carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to let them access the house for gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it violates their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended to ask the landlord to write an explicit letter stating the reasons why gas safety checks are required and what they'll mean. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is still refusing to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. gas safety certificate uk might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. This is a serious action that should only be considered only in the case of a last resort.