Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their property on the market, landlords must be able show 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 certification?
You must adhere to the law, whether you are a landlord or a homeowner, when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working condition. That's why every property owner needs to get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
what is a gas safety certificate , also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also verify that the ventilation passages in your properties are clear to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, including their model, make and the location of your home. The engineer will then state whether they found the appliance to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that must be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to get one annually. This will not just put your mind at rest about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you identify any issues early. This could help you save money and stress in the long run.
If you're thinking of selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can speed up the conveyancing process since it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done before your tenants move into the property or at the start of a new tenancy. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself and keep the records of any maintenance that was carried out on gas appliances in your home.
Landlords are legally required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face severe penalties (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The most significant risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. how long does a gas safety certificate last has a unique Hologram.
It is rare for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property to perform the Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these situations it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why this is a legal requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them an Section 21 notice to end their lease. This must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being forced out for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove that their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants may not allow gas engineers enter their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will reduce the number tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when the required checks. This is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant an original copy when they sign the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each storey of the property. Landlords can get more information about these requirements, including free leaflets 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 unable to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of those attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This will prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined if they don't.
Landlords must be able to show that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as dangerous or defective the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to let them access the property for gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or are having a dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access, they should consider taking further action. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. This is a serious action which should only be used only in the case of a last option.