Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. 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 demonstrate that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? And who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the vents in your properties are clear to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected and their manufacturer, model and location within your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will provide details of the work that needs to be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You must also give it to new tenants when they begin their lease. If you don't follow the rules with the requirements, you could be subject to penalties or fines.
Although homeowners don't need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to get one annually. Not only will this put your mind at ease regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you catch any problems early on. This could save you lots of time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful for potential buyers when you're selling your house. They can prove that you've taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will speed up the conveyancing process as it will not require any additional checks.
Who is in need of an attestation of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this before your tenants move into the property, or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself and keep documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid gas certificate safety, you may face heavy penalties (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can carry out an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with a unique hologram on it.
It is rare for a tenant not to let access to the rental property in order to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations, it's important for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If gas safety certificate near me is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider giving them the Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied with an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For example the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties meet the laws of the government. However, some tenants may not allow a gas engineer into their homes for this reason which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should try to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers aren't agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential legally-required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to allow access for gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is satisfied that the appliances are safe for use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. The landlord must also provide an applicant one upon signing the lease. The landlord should ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, such as free leaflets and 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 perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept records of the attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good condition.
This will help to 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 penalized for not doing so.
Landlords have to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to give access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could include the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious measure that should only be taken only in the case of a last resort.