7 Things About Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords You'll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it's only landlords that are accountable for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent out rooms or holiday accommodation.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipework and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe prior to putting them on the market. This can be done by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you are a landlord or a homeowner, when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is a legal document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are in good working order in your rental property to prevent 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 make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will detail any work that needs to 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 provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but will help you spot any issues in advance. This can help you save money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely beneficial to potential buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you've taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will expedite the process of conveyancing because it won't require additional checks.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done before your tenants move into the property or at the start of any new lease. You should keep a copy for yourself and keep documentation of any maintenance you have done to the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid gas certificate safety, you could be subject to massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, with an exclusive hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant to permit access to the rental property in order to perform the Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations, it's important for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer in the property, then the landlord could be tempted to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied with an explanation of the reason they are being forced out. For instance, non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove that their rented properties meet the regulations of the government. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need to access their homes to complete a legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after the required checks. 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant a copy on signing the lease. The landlord must also ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor 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 is not able to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to evict tenants. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of those attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason and is found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This will help to prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them fixed immediately to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the property for gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or they are having a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains why the gas safety inspection is required and what it will entail. This letter could be sent via recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This could include the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious measure that should only be taken only as a last option.