Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This applies to landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipework, appliances and flues within their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate .
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you must to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. This is why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? 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 your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages in your properties are clear to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
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 the location of your home. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe to use or not, and give details of the work that needs to be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give 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 tenancy. If you don't follow the rules, you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
While homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one annually. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but it will aid in identifying any problems early on. This can save you time and money in the long-term.
If you're planning to sell your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require any additional checks.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. Ideally, this will 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 done to the gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certification and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive penalties (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or a criminal charge. The greatest danger is that a tenant might be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. This is because only they have been trained to safely inspect and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with unique holograms on it.
It is not common for a tenant to let access to the rental property to perform an Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these instances, it's important for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property 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 tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they're being removed. For example rent arrears, non-payment or severe damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to enter their homes to complete a legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously 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 check being completed. They must also give a new tenant a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each storey of the property. Landlords can get 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 cannot gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they can use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a notice under section 21 can only be served if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain access for the gas safety check and has kept a record of these attempts. If how often gas safety certificate does not adhere to the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully they could be found guilty of harassing and face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they rent is safe for tenants. This means they must have regular checks performed by an approved gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents which could be caused by defective appliances, while also aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, that can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to be able prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or that they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they'll mean. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is still refusing to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking additional steps. This might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to grant access. This is a very serious option that should only be taken as an option last resort.