Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Landlords need to prove that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. Gas safety certificate s can assist you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord or homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good in good working order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called 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 the gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions in your rental property to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, along with their model, brand and location within your property. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use and provide information about any work needed to ensure your tenants' safety.
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 receiving the service and provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If you fail to comply, you could face charges or fines.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you catch any issues early. This could save you a lot of money and stress in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They can show that you've taken good care of all your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional checks.
Who requires an attestation of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure 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 properly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in or at the start of any new lease. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself as well as documentation of any maintenance you have performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, and any appliances provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face severe fines (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords are able to check whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow a Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer into the property and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For example the non-payment of rent, or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain an gas safety certification?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure that their rental properties meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers aren't spying and are only required to complete an important legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known as a CP12 which stands for 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 copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure 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 installed to every storey of the property. Landlords can get 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 cannot gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to keep in mind, however, that a notice under section 21 can only be served if the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept records of the attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must have regular checks performed by an approved gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good in good working order.
This will help to stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. It is essential that landlords keep up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety checks on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it is an invasion of their privacy, or they are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they'll mean. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord then they should consider taking another step. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious step that should only be taken as a last option.