Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that it is only landlords that are accountable for gas safety inspections. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework and flues, as well as appliances, in their homes are safe before putting them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a
gas safety certificate landlord safety certificate?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to comply with the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good working order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord
gas safety certificate what is checked Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation channels are clear within 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, make and location within your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and will provide details of any work that must be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You should also provide it to tenants who are new when they start their lease. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one every year. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any issues early. This can save you lots of money and hassle in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They can prove that you've taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can accelerate the process of selling as it will not require additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
You'll need your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. Ideally, this will be done before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. You should keep the copy for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess a valid gas safety certification and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge penalties (up to a maximum of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or even an indictment. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. 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 not to permit access to the rental property in order to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these instances it is crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why this is a legal obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in the property, then the landlord could decide to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason why they're being forced out, such as non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have gas safety certificates to prove their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers aren't agents of the state and require access only to complete an important legally-required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to grant access to gas inspections.
The
landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when the required checks. It is also known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
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. They must also give an applicant an original copy when they sign the lease. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. It is important to keep in mind that a section 21 notice 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 does not follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require a gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. It also means that they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents which could be caused by faulty appliances, while also reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords are up to date with their Gas
Safety certificates, as they could be fined for not doing so.
Landlords have to show proof that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in time. They can prove this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by obtaining a copy of the latest certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access the house for gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or are in a dispute with their landlord. It's recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it's going to involve. This letter could be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious step which should only be used only as a last resort.