Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must prove that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you must to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are in good working order in 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 the location of your property. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe to use or not, and will give details of any work that must be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants once they start their tenancy. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you spot any issues in advance. This could save you money and time in the long-term.
If you're thinking of selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of conveyancing since it does not require any additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.
After the inspection has been completed, you'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new lease. Keep the copy of the document for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties checked 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 to tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't possess a valid gas safety certification, you could face hefty penalties (up to PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or a criminal charge. The biggest risk is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by defective appliances at your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they 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.
It is very rare for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these cases it is crucial for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected promptly.
If a tenant continues to refuse to let an engineer into their home The landlord should consider giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation of why they are being forced out. For example, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to show that their rented properties meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to grant access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when they have completed the necessary checks. This is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept records of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord does not follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have an official gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they must regularly check with an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords need to be able show proof that they completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. gas safety certificate cp12 can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to give access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This might include writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be considered only as a last resort.