Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety inspection. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties as well as those who lease rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property on the market landlords must demonstrate that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by having the gas safety certificate.
What is gas safe building regulations compliance certificate ?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord or a homeowner, when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. That's why every property owner needs to obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages in your home are clean to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were examined and their manufacturer, model and location within your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use and provide information about the work required 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 the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. Failure to do this could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one on an annual basis. Not only will this put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it will also help you catch any issues before they become serious. This could save you lots of money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful for potential buyers when you're selling your house. They will show that you've taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds up the conveyancing as it does not require any additional inspections.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done ideally prior to your tenants moving in, or at the beginning of a new tenancy. You should keep an original copy for yourself as well as records of any maintenance performed on the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords must have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances provided for use by tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid gas certificate safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and 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 as a result of defective appliances in your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has an exclusive hologram.
Although it's not uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it is crucial for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and how carbon monoxide can be very hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied with an explanation as to why they're being evicted. For instance, non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need a gas safety certificate to ensure that their rental properties meet the laws of the government. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer to enter their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not agents of the state and require access only to complete a vital, legally required piece of documentation. This will help reduce the number of tenants who deny access to gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after they have completed the necessary checks. It is also referred to as a CP12 that 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 must provide an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each floor of the property. Landlords can get more information on these requirements, including free brochures 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 not able to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they can use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. 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 entry for the gas safety check and has kept a record of the attempts. If a landlord fails adhere to the proper procedure for entry and then tries to evict their tenants by illegal means, they may be accused of harassment and face hefty fines from regulatory bodies.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they lease is safe for tenants. This means they must regularly check with an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. This also means that they must make sure the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that could be caused by faulty appliances, in addition to reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. gas safety certificate how often is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or faulty immediately to protect tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to let them access the property for the gas safety checks. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is an ideal idea for the landlord to send a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll mean. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they must take further steps. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. However, this is a serious step that should only be considered as an option last resort.