Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This applies to both 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 prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. This is why every property owner needs to get their gas safety certificate at least once per 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 an official document that is issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are clear within your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the inspected gas appliances and installations, including their model, brand, and location in your home. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and give details of any work that must be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You must also give it to tenants who are new when they start their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it will also help you catch any issues before they become serious. This could save you lots of money and hassle in the long in the long.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They can show that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require any additional checks.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to arrange regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
After gas certificate has been completed, you'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended that this be completed before your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. You should keep an original copy for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't possess an official gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive fines (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants, or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The most significant danger is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by 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 and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explains to the tenant why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer in the property, then the landlord could be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be followed by an explanation of the reason they are being forced out. For instance rent arrears, non-payment or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow gas engineers into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not spies and only need access to complete an important legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to allow access for gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when he has completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12 that stands for 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 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 a new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can find 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 is unable to gain access to the property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. It is important to note, however, that a notice under section 21 is only served if the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of the attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully and is found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. 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 prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords have to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety checks in time. They can prove this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. 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 is an ideal idea to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining why the gas safety checks are necessary and what they will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should be given 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking another step. 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 in the last option.