Why We Why We Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords (And You Should, Too!)
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to remember that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety inspection. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday homes.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must show that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What is a gas certificate? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all the gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that the vents in your properties are clear to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined, along with their make, model and location within your property. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and provide details of any work that must be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If certificate cost fail to comply, you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's recommended to obtain one every year. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it can aid in identifying any issues early. This could save you lots of money and hassle in the long term.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you've taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional checks.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be done before your current tenants move in or at the beginning of any new tenancies. Keep 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 inspected for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't possess a valid gas safety certification, you could face hefty fines (up to a total of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or an indictment. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only people who can carry out an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking at their ID card, with unique holograms on it.
It is not common for a tenant to let access to the rental property in order to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their lease. This must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How can I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. However, some tenants may refuse to allow gas engineers enter their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying and only need to access their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will 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 once the required checks. This is also commonly known 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 the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed and give a new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a rental Property.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if needed. 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 a record of those attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict their tenants by illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipelines and appliances are in good condition.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning which could be caused by faulty equipment. It is important that landlords are up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined if they don't.
Landlords must be able to show proof that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for the gas safety checks. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is needed and what it will entail. This can be sent by recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant is unwilling to give access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious action that should only be considered in the last resort.