Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able show that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to comply with the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who really 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 the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also test that the vents in your home are clean to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make and model as well as their location within your home. The engineer will inform you if the appliances are safe to use and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present 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 tenure. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any issues early. This could help you save time and money in the long term.
If landlord gas safety certificate of selling your home and are thinking of selling it, the 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 will also speed the process of conveyancing since it does not require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances or flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
After the inspection has been completed, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. Keep an original copy for yourself as well as the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face heavy penalties (upto PS6,000), legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason for being removed for non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with 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 make sure to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers aren't spying and are only required to complete an essential, legally required document. This will 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 they have completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly 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 give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can obtain 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 not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can use a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if needed. It is important to note that a notice under section 21 is only valid when the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept records of the attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and tries evicting tenants without a valid reason they could be found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means that they must regularly check with an accredited gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. It also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help to avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety test was carried out in a timely manner. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances are identified as dangerous or defective the landlord should have them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for the gas safety inspections. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they'll entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant does not give access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be taken only in the case of a last option.