Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework, appliances and flues in their homes are safe before putting them on the market. Gas safety certificates can assist you achieve this.
What is gas safety certificate homeowner ?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. This is why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per 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 a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation passages are in good working order in your rental property to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
gas safety certificate grace period will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were inspected, along with their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will inform you if the appliances are safe to use and will provide information on the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your current tenants within 28 days of the service and provide it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only give you peace of mind regarding the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but it could aid in identifying any problems early on. This could save you a lot of time and money in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your house. They can show that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of conveyancing since it does not require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure 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. It is recommended that this be completed before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new leases. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the certificate for yourself and any documentation of maintenance performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certification you could be facing massive penalties (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or even a criminal charge. The greatest danger is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords are able to check if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these cases, it's important for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if not detected at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being forced out for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers into their homes for this reason - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required 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 give a copy to their existing 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 agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each storey of the property. Landlords can find more information on 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 security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to remove tenants, if necessary. It is important to keep in mind that a notice under section 21 is only served when 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 a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure for entry and then tries to evict their tenants by unlawful means, they could be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This can help prevent fires or accidents which could be caused by faulty appliances, as well as reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords need to be able prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety inspections on time. They can do this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or they are fighting with their landlord. If gas safety certificate homeowner is the case, it's a good idea to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is still refusing to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious measure that should only be considered only as a last option.