Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it's only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property on the market, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certificate ?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you must to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good operating condition. This is why every property owner must get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full examination of all gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation channels are clear in your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their model, brand, and location in your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and provide details of 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 current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If you fail to comply you could face penalties or fines.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still a good thing to get one every year. This will not just put your mind at ease about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you spot any issues in advance. This will save you money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can prove that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of selling as it does not require any additional checks.
Who needs a certificate of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues within your rental property 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 your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended that this be completed prior to when your tenants move in or at the start of any new leases. You should keep a copy for yourself and keep records of any maintenance done to the gas appliances that are in your property.
The landlords' properties must be checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid gas certificate safety, you may face massive fines (upto PS6,000) and legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant risk, however, 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. They are the only ones who have been trained to safely examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, which has unique holograms on it.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to allow the Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these cases it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected in time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in the property, then the landlord could consider giving them an Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason why they're being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their home for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords should try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not spying and are only required to complete an essential legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once he has completed the necessary checks. It is also referred to 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 an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can find more information about 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 to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they may apply for a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if necessary. 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 a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants unlawfully they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must regularly check with a registered gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that may be caused by defective appliances, as well as reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must be able to show proof that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to allow them access the property for the gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended to ask the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they will entail. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they should take further steps. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. However, this is a serious step which should be used only as an option last option.