Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety inspections. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property for sale landlords must prove that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to comply with the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental properties to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all of the inspected gas appliances and installations, along with their make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You should also provide it to new tenants once they start their tenure. If you fail to comply you could face charges or fines.
Although homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to get one on an annual basis. This will not only set your mind at ease regarding the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can also help you detect any issues early. This could help you save money and stress in the long run.
If you're thinking of selling your house, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
Once the inspection is complete You'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this prior to your tenants moving in or at the beginning of a new tenancy. You should keep an original copy for yourself, as well as records of any maintenance carried out on gas appliances in your property.
The landlords' properties must be examined for gas safety at minimum once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without an official certificate of gas 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 might be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. Only landlord gas safety certificate cost are trained to check and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card that has an exclusive hologram.
It is rare for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances it is crucial for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide is 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 an Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason for being removed for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow a gas engineer into their homes for this reason - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and that they are only required to enter their homes to complete a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must give an original copy to 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 contract. The landlord should also ensure 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 connected to each storey of the property. Landlords can obtain more information on 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 cannot gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they may make use of a section 21 notice to expel the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to note, however, that a section 21 notice is only served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain entry to conduct the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of these attempts. If the landlord does not follow the correct procedure and attempts to evict tenants without a valid reason, they may be found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do gas safety certificate duplicate require a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This means that they need to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.
This will help stop any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. It is important that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety checks on time. This can be done by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it will involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not give the landlord access they must take further action. This might include writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. However, this is a serious step that should only be taken as a last option.