Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is vital to remember that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their homes on the market landlords must prove that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is do homeowners need a gas safety certificate ?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to adhere to the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. That's why every property owner needs to be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is gas safety certificate check ? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. 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.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the inspected gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, make and the location of your property. The engineer will then state whether they found the appliance to be safe for use or not, and will provide details of any work that must be done to ensure the security 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 give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still an excellent idea to obtain one every year. This will not just put your mind at ease about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will also help you detect any problems early. This could save you time and money in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your home. They will show that you have taken care of all gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require any additional checks.
Who requires an attestation of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is in good working order.
You'll need your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done ideally prior to your tenants moving in or at the start of a new lease. Keep a 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 properties checked for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess a valid gas safety certification you could be facing hefty penalties (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can carry out an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they are trained to safely examine, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if not detected in time.
If the tenant is unwilling to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This is to be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being forced out in the first place, such as not paying rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords need gas safety certificates to ensure their rental properties comply with government regulations. Some tenants will refuse to let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential legally required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is confident that the appliances are safe for use They will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to 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 their current tenants with a copy of the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every 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 leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in the 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 make use of a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must regularly check with a registered gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents which could be caused by faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen when appliances aren't properly installed or maintained. It is crucial that landlords stay up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or defective immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it violates their privacy, or they are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea for the landlord to send an extremely clear letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they will entail. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious step that should only be considered in the last option.