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Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to keep in mind that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property for sale, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? And 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 property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions in your rental properties to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were examined, along with their make, model and location within your home. The engineer will then state whether they believe the appliances to be safe to use or not, and detail any work that must be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your current tenants within 28 days of the service and provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only give you peace of mind about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it will also help you spot any issues before they become serious. This could save you a lot of money and hassle in the long in the long.
If Gas safety certificate considering selling your home and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of conveyancing since it does not require any additional checks.
Who requires an official certificate 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. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from 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. It is recommended that this be completed before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords must have their properties checked for gas safety at minimum once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face heavy penalties (upto PS6,000), legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, that has unique holograms on it.
It is rare for a tenant not to let access to the rental property to conduct the Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide can be very hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant refuses to let an engineer in, then the landlord may consider giving them a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason for being evicted, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with the requirements 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 need to make sure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and only need to enter their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is confident that all appliances are safe to use they will issue the 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give the new tenant one upon signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor 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 is unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. It is important to note, however, that a section 21 notice is only served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has maintained records of the attempts. If the landlord does not adhere to the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally they could be found guilty of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I require a gas safety certification?
Landlords need to have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. This also means that they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any accidents or fires which could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is essential that landlords stay up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to show that their annual gas safety check was completed on time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant them access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is an ideal idea for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to give access to the landlord, they must take further action. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to force them to grant access. This is a serious step that should only be considered only in the case of a last option.